What's the standard for totalling a car in an accident ?

[Doug]

S-Daughter got rear-ended by an uninsured motorist very recently.

Car is kinda of a POS, anyway.

2002 Nissan Sentra, base model ( GSXE or something like that), wth AT, 124k miles.

Estimated repair costs are 2k. I'd call it only fair condition prior to this hit.

What should insurance co. pay if they total it ? I think we'd accept 2k or better.

I get $2,050 as KBB trade in value. 2nd accident for this car.

She doesn't really want it fixed again, either !

How does this SHIT work, can you fight them if they want to repair it ?

Car has been problematic, sort of a lemon. She bought it new.

 

[oldmanTED]

The insurance company will determine if it is deemed a total wreck and offer Blue Book value only. Regardless, it sounds like repairing it wouldn't be a good move. A car is never the same after a near total wreck no matter how much it is repaired.

 

[DesertNole]

Every state has their own guidelines, and within that each insurance company has their own criteria. A guideline has always been if the estimated repair cost exceeds 80% of the vehicles ACV (actual cash value), than typically it will be deemed a total. The presence of substantial structural damage to the unibody/frame can also result in the vehicle being deemed a total if the adjuster/appraiser does not feel that the car can be restored to pre-accident condition (can get kind of grey here). A problem is that with the increase in the use of salvage and/or aftermarket parts, if someone is hell bent on fixing it they can probably make the numbers work in their favor. The insurance company will not use "trade in" value when they perform a percentage of value comparison of the repair cost, they will use retail (what it would cost you to walk into a dealership and by the same vehicle.) I would think that the retail value of this car is considerably more than the trade in value that you listed. Check it out. Also, they don't care how many prior accidents the vehicle has been in. Good luck.

 

[Legend-I-Aint]

check into the cash for clunkers program.....if they still have money left and the car qualifies......that might be a good option

run out and get you a government motors car or maybe a good ford

 

[Whoson1st]

"Cash for Clunkers"; I have a very old car, but it gets 30mpg. Does that exclude it from this program?

 

[FairWarning]

"Cash for Clunkers"; I have a very old car, but it gets 30mpg. Does that exclude it from this program?

Yes. I believe it is 18 or under.

 

[Whoson1st]

That figures!

 

[Doug]

check into the cash for clunkers program.....if they still have money left and the car qualifies......that might be a good option

run out and get you a government motors car or maybe a good ford

Yes, that is for 1984-2001 models rated at 18 MPG or less, so an 2002 Sentra is out.

Program is valid for any brand of new car.

 

[King83]

good rule of thumb is if the frame is bent u cant fix, if its ok then you can.

oh...airbags deploy they usually totall due to the fact its like 2gs to replace airbags.

 

[billhill999]

I was always under the impression that 'totaled' meant when the cost of repairs exceeds the value of the car.

 

[Vulture50]

Im not sure but I had been told if damage is 80% of cars value or more its totaled.

 

[djefferis]

75% of nada or greater = total

With an estimate of 2k, your likely there. Potential for supplements is the reason.

even if they dont "total" it, you can always take the $$ for repairs, and sell the car to a salvage yard yourself.

Also remember, you can negotiate for a little more if they want offer you what you think is fair for the total.

 

[PO69]

The best thing to do is to get the check for repairing the car and dont fix the shit!


Are you sure about the 2001 date for the clunkers program? I thought that newer cars than that are eligible too, but I havent checked into it

 

[ConansHammer]

Here is a little insurance trick to get more cash. The first offer from the insurance company for low value cars is usually about all your going to get.

Tell them that you also want to be paid for expenses associated with replacing a 2 k car with another 2 k car.

That means time spent to find and mechanically check out a replacement.

You can get an extra $500 <><>

 

[PO69]

I would say fuck this car and get her one with all of the current safety features and good gas mileage. No one cared about gas mileage back around year 2000, but now that is all that matters.

Buy here a good honda or at least a brand new Hyundai Elantra for around $13,000. Dont buy used, just buy a cheap new car for her that wont give her any trouble

 

[Doug]

The best thing to do is to get the check for repairing the car and dont fix the shit!


Are you sure about the 2001 date for the clunkers program? I thought that newer cars than that are eligible too, but I havent checked into it

It seems to end with the 2001 model year.

http://www.edmunds.com/cash-for-clunkers/eligible-vehicles.html