Random question...anyone know if you can argue against an insurance company totaling a vehicle in a no fault accident? I think they are going to claim the car is totaled but I don’t think it is. There’s no way the damage/cost of repair is equal to the cash value of the vehicle. Passenger side airbag went off. I know I could buy it back, but OUR insurance doesn’t insure “salvaged” vehicles and I REALLY don’t want to go through the search and buying process again. 2002 G35 w/ 97,000 miles for reference. Car was pretty immaculate.

Haven’t taken it to the shop but by my visual the damage is mainly cosmetic (hood, fender, bumper, headlight assembly) and radiator and radiator support. Because the airbag went off, I’m sure they’ll deem it a total loss, though.

I know how to fight for the value of the car if I agree that it’s totaled, but can I fight their claim of a “total loss”?

Thanks,
CT

My guess is the cost to repair is higher than you think. Materials costs have skyrocketed. Paint goes from crazy to outrageous depending on the color. I would take it to a shop you trust for an estimate before you go any further.

Definitely take it to a shop.

If it is totalled, and you do buy it back, you can get it repaired and here in MO the Highway Patrol will inspect it thereafter. If HP says it is safe, then you can go back to your insurer and they should cover it again.

I went through this a long time ago with a 1998 BMW M3. When I later sold it the person buying it did not care that it had been in a wreck. The cosmetic things I saw, were things 98% of the population would never see.

I gave her a list of the repairs, my list of the cosmetic items, and like I said, she did not care.

Best of luck.

quote:

Originally posted by ChasinTails:
Because the airbag went off, I’m sure they’ll deem it a total loss, though.

According to my body guy, this isn't necessarily the case anymore.

Looks like you buy it from the insurance company, get it fixed, and go insurance company shopping for new coverage.

You owe your current insurance provider nothing, especially loyalty. If they won’t cover it. Get a new one(in’s co.).

It’s just business.

It's just math. Most carriers will total the vehicle if the cost to repair exceeds a certain percentage of the value (80% comes to mind, but that may vary). If you want to fight it you have to work with those two numbers - argue that the value is higher than their estimate, the cost to repair is lower, or both. On the first point, make sure the value they set is actual replacement cost and not Blue Book - they are not the same thing these days. On the second point, if you get a second opinion on the repair work make sure it's from someone you actually want to do the work, and who will guarantee the price, because if you win the carrier will probably cut you a check for the amount of the estimate and that's it -- you're stuck if the body shop is lousy or goes over their estimate.

Keep your options open when you go through the process. If they total the car they have to put you back in the same position you were in before the wreck, meaning they have to buy you a comparable, non-wrecked vehicle. You're going to have to find such a vehicle (or several of them) to know what the value of your existing vehicle is, so why not have them buy one for you? Never wrecked may well be better than wrecked and repaired.