If they offer you $17k for the car, it’s probably totaled since that’s about 76% of its value. But it really depends on what the insurance company decides.
Ask how much it would cost if they don’t repaint the whole car to match the color.
Eli said:
Ask how much it would cost if they don’t repaint the whole car to match the color.
Yeah, years ago I had a ‘97 Geo Prizm, and the quote dropped from $3k to $480 when I asked that.
Eli said:
Ask how much it would cost if they don’t repaint the whole car to match the color.
I had a small accident, and the bumper and headlight replacement plus paint was about $2,700. I did it myself for $500, just needed some body clips and a few zip ties for the skid plate. The matte grey/black actually looks fine with my CX-3’s plastic trim, so I didn’t bother painting it.
Probably. Most insurance companies total a car when repairs get close to 70% of its value.
Vesper said:
Probably. Most insurance companies total a car when repairs get close to 70% of its value.
In Canada, most insurance companies total cars at around 40-50%.
Vesper said:
Probably. Most insurance companies total a car when repairs get close to 70% of its value.
In Canada, most insurance companies total cars at around 40-50%.
That’s changed recently because of production issues. Now it’s closer to 70%.
@Marley
Yeah, no one can afford new cars now, so production is slower. Only luxury cars seem to be selling well.
Vesper said:
Probably. Most insurance companies total a car when repairs get close to 70% of its value.
If the damage is at 70%, it’s a legal total loss in most states. My experience with AmFam and State Farm shows they total cars at 50-60%. I had two cars totaled in four months. One with AmFam was totaled quickly because the airbag deployed, and they gave me $27k. State Farm estimated $14.5k in repairs and paid me $26k instead. It’s frustrating.
Most likely. The initial quote probably doesn’t include everything, and once they start taking the car apart, they’ll likely find more damage. If repairs hit 70% of the car’s value, it’s usually totaled. They might first say it’s repairable, then call you later saying they found more damage and it’s now totaled.
They’re likely overcharging because of the car’s value. This damage seems more like $5-7k, not counting sensors. I had worse damage on my 2015, and it was fixed for $8k when the car was worth $12k, but that was with Elephant Insurance.
@Poe
Parts are way more expensive now, probably because of tariff concerns. Prices keep going up.
Your total loss offer won’t be based on Kelley Blue Book. It’s based on what it would cost to buy a similar car at a dealer. They’ll probably lowball you at first. Look up similar cars within 500 miles from real dealers (not private sales) and send those to your insurance. I’ve gotten extra money this way.
This is a perfect example of how expensive things are in the US. You could ship the car to Mexico or China for repairs and still save money.
Let them total it, take the payout, then buy it back and fix it yourself for way cheaper. I did that and now I don’t stress over my car anymore. I actually love it.
Ashwin said:
Let them total it, take the payout, then buy it back and fix it yourself for way cheaper. I did that and now I don’t stress over my car anymore. I actually love it.
If the chassis needs straightening, that can get expensive if you want it done right.
@Shan
Yeah, but if the damage isn’t too bad, it might still be worth it.
It depends on the state, but I’d say it’s probably totaled. Insurance companies usually assume an extra 15% in costs, so your $13k repair could turn into $14.9k. If your car is worth $18k, they might use a lower value and justify it using companies like CCC One to make low offers. They compare your car to others but adjust prices unfairly, making it seem worth less than it is.