After a car is declared a total loss by insurance,what happens to the vehicle?

timetochangemyname

I think so if you don't owe anything left over on the car.

CwboyBill

Once the insurer settles with you they actually OWN the car. Most will allow you to retain the car but you will have to deduct the salvage value from the settlement amount. Some states prohibit this so check first. One more note: it can be very, very difficult to ever re-tag a total-loss vehicle so keep this in mind before you bite off more than you can swallow.

CHRISTINE E

It Sounds like you are really screwed up by this problem. Hope you could get good luck here.http://car-insurance.easyideas4u.info/car-insurance.htm

Angel

The insurance company takes the vehicle and probably sells it to a junk yard or a recycling plant. They have bought the "totalled" vehicle from you with their pay off to you.

Paul

Normally, it goes to the scrap yard where the usable parts are sold, then it goes to the crusher.

kevusaborn

I'm not sure I see where your going here but that's OK..
All depends on the vehicle, state and insurance co.

Wait and see.. Before you dive into it to sell parts from it..

They may want to pick it up for Salvage parts themselves.
They make $ on that too...

Don't expect to ever put it back on the road again...
It's just not worth the heartache at DMW....

Good luck with your new wheels to come..Hope you are in
one piece....

mbrcatz

Well, typically you turn the title of the car over to the insurance company, and they sell it to a junk yard for scrap.

You CAN keep the car, but then the "salvage value" of the car is subtracted from your payment check - and you have to turn in your title and get a salvage title for your car.

If there's a loan on your car, the lender most likely is NOT going to go for this. They would have to agree.

vernin822

I'm going to echo many previous responses in saying that you can "get the check" and keep the car - many states now have a database of cars that are declared "totalled" - not only will it show on the title? - you may very well sell someone a vehicle that's uninsurable. (specific underwriting question in NY - if the vehicle has previously been declared a "total loss" - it may be uninsurable; regardless) - tread wisely.

sweetiefreck

You can buy the car back from the insurance company- but if they declare it totaled then they take it

Michelle

They keep the car, you get the check. You can in some cases buy the car back from them...but they will deduct from the check you receive. Cars are totaled because the repairs are estimated at more than 80 percent of the book value of the car......and they are usually pretty accurate...meaning if you are thinking of buying the car from them and repairing it....it won't be an easy undertaking. You also end up with a branded title, meaning no dealer will accept that car as a trade in, and a salvaged car is pretty much worth zero as far as resale goes, you have to disclose the branded title to any potential buyer, it's not something you can hide.

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