When do insurance co's decide to total a car?

[Dial_tone]

A friend was in an accident. Hit from the rear, their fault. Car is only worth about $3-4K. The rear bumper is off, not much trunk damage; haven't seen pics but sounds salvageable to me. She can't afford a new car. Friends are telling her they will total it. What goes into that decision?

 

[Raptorex]

rear bumper damange; chance = 0

Front end typically or frame.

 

[digger]

Thought it was "cost of repair > value of car" ???

 

[buffer1]

rear bumper damange; chance = 0

Front end typically or frame.

typical mouse,want to hit from the rear,lol

 

[Mr. dB]

Thought it was "cost of repair > value of car" ???

Or "cost of repair > amount they think they can lowball you for the car"...

 

[manny78]

Thought it was "cost of repair > value of car" ???

In Canada yes. In the US they have a very large definition. Most US totalled car wouldnt get the label here.

 

[velvett]

Thought it was "cost of repair > value of car" ???

That's what I thought

 

[fistfullofsteel]

if there is frame damage then almost always

 

[-SD-]

its cost of repair > what the insurance co thinks car is worth

 

[Raptorex]

no cheap cars bumper is worth 3-4 k, that I know.

 

[Dial_tone]

How hard do you have to get hit from rear to cause frame damage? crushed to the axle?

 

[silverstar1025]

Thought it was "cost of repair > value of car" ???

Yep! I imagine since she was hit from the back that her airbags didn't come out too right? When my car was totalled they told me that fixing the airbags alone would be about $2K.

 

[Raptorex]

How hard do you have to get hit from rear to cause frame damage? crushed to the axle?

probably, unless they come from underneath you (ie if you are braking your rear rises and they can get under you).

 

[chewyxrage]

You'd be surprised how little damage it takes to get to $3-4K.

They totaled out my '96 T-bird and I only got hit on the passenger side door.

Got a check for $3,400 and bought the car back for $270.

I would advise your friend attempts to buy her car back if they total it. The title will have "salvage" on it but that doesn't matter if you are planning on running the vehicle into the ground.

 

[Dial_tone]

You'd be surprised how little damage it takes to get to $3-4K.

They totaled out my '96 T-bird and I only got hit on the passenger side door.

Got a check for $3,400 and bought the car back for $270.

I would advise your friend attempts to buy her car back if they total it. The title will have "salvage" on it but that doesn't matter if you are planning on running the vehicle into the ground.

salvage just means u can't sell it, right?

 

[hanselthecaretaker]

Yep! I imagine since she was hit from the back that her airbags didn't come out too right? When my car was totalled they told me that fixing the airbags alone would be about $2K.

She still had her bra on.

 

[chewyxrage]

salvage just means u can't sell it, right?

Yep. If it's just rear ended it sounds like the car is still usable. In my case the car has a 4.6L V-8 and is still fun as shit to drive even though you can't open the passenger side door. It's my toy for now. If I had any clue how to work on cars I would probably try to repair it.

 

[silverstar1025]

She still had her bra on.

LOL!! You're a funny one!

 

[Razorguns]

use the $4k and buy a toyota corolla until she CAN afford a new (slightly used) car.

life w/o car payments rule

r

 

[stevexpress]

A friend was in an accident. Hit from the rear, their fault. Car is only worth about $3-4K. The rear bumper is off, not much trunk damage; haven't seen pics but sounds salvageable to me. She can't afford a new car. Friends are telling her they will total it. What goes into that decision?

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the vechicle is considered when he total damage exceeds 75% of the vechicles value

 

[stevexpress]

salvage just means u can't sell it, right?

salvaged means the vechicle has been totaled and is not considered road worthy....If a car is rebuilt or repaired aftered being totaled it can have a salvaged title, depending on which state you live in and what their laws are on getting a car reinspected by the DOT which has to be done in order to tag the car and insure it again

 

[dirty~d~]

Thought it was "cost of repair > value of car" ???

We have a winner.

 

[nimbus]

Thought it was "cost of repair > value of car" ???

this is overly simplistic because it doesn't take into account the money that insurance co's get for auctioning off the salvaged car.

the cut-off varies from company to company. I've definitely heard of vehicles being totalled for repair costs that we're barely over half the car's value, but i'm thinking 75% is more the norm, like steve said

 

[SpyWizard]

And her rates will go up.. opps..

at least in Mn they will, it's a no fault state..

 

[Raptorex]

salvaged means the vechicle has been totaled and is not considered road worthy....If a car is rebuilt or repaired aftered being totaled it can have a salvaged title, depending on which state you live in and what their laws are on getting a car reinspected by the DOT which has to be done in order to tag the car and insure it again

Good luck getting a salvaged car insured.