Car got crunched; insurance company wants to say it's a total loss?

Must be car-issue month. :-(

My car got hit on Sunday; fortunately, no one was injured. The driver door took most of the damage: Attachment 11403

(My second split-second thought while the other car was hitting mine was something along the lines of "Gee, I hope I don't have to go to the hospital; I have on old underwear!" I wish I were kidding about this... but ~~ sigh ~~ I'm not... :o )

It's an old car, 1998, ~ 210K miles, a Honda Civic which has been very reliable. I hadn't planned to replace it for at least another two years, not with a kid in college at the moment.

My insurance company has declared it a total loss, which seems to be in their best (financial) interest; it does not seem to be in my best (financial) interest, however, given that I don't have a car payment now and would like to keep it that way (see "kid in college" above).

Has anyone here been through this before? I've not and suspect I should be more educated about my options before I make a decision to accept (or fight) the company's decision. If anyone has any suggestions, I'd be very grateful for them!

Thanks!

blue book value of a car that age with that many miles vs repair cost may be a total loss from an actuary view.

You might look into a junkyard replacement door if you want to put out the time and effort.

I know how you feel though:(
my car is the same year and I've taken good care of it. It would be hard to find a replacement for the $ they'll give you

i know nothing of insurance/loss issues unfortunately, but i had to comment on this:

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(My second split-second thought while the other car was hitting mine was something along the lines of "Gee, I hope I don't have to go to the hospital; I have on old underwear!" I wish I were kidding about this... but ~~ sigh ~~ I'm not... )

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After finishing the Monster Cookie Metric Century in April, I pulled on a skirt, ditched the bike shorts, and then realized I had forgotten to bring undies. Figured, oh well, what the heck, I am NOT sitting on that chamois for an instant longer, hopped in the car, and three blocks later, we were t-boned by someone running a red light. My third split-second thought (after "how's my pregnant friend in the back seat?" and "omg the bikes are on the rear rack!" was "oh s***, I don't have any underwear on!" So yes, I can relate :)

Hope you get the answers you need. If the damage truly is limited to the door, I agree with Zen and look for a junkyard door. But is there more damage that they're basing their "total loss" on? Frame/axle damage that's not visible?

Frame damage is what I'd be most concerned about.

But if two body shops tell you the frame isn't bent, and if the door is functional (or if you can find a door at a salvage yard as they've suggested), you might want to buy the car from the insurance company for the salvage value. Then it'll have to pass inspection by the OSP and they'll issue you a new title.

I've never done it myself, but I understand it's not hard in Ohio.

I don't think there's any way to avoid them totalling out the car, even if the damage is strictly cosmetic. That looks like at least $4000 to me (and it's been a while since I've had any body work done, thank goodness, so inflation probably makes it more than that).

Thanks, all!! I've emailed the insurance company asking for the figures they used in making this decision, and letting them know I'd like to get a second estimate for fixing the damage.

jdubble, oh thank goodness, it's not just me!! Thank you!

total loss just means that it would cosst more to repair the car than the car is worth.
You can take the check and find someone to repair your car if you still want it.
It very well could have frame damage.
If you are not happy with what they think your car is worth, find some other cars same make model and year for sale and prove that your car is worth more. photos of your car in its original pristine shape help too.
A few years ago someone rearended my 1991 Honda civic. THey wanted to total it too.
I got my car fixed!!

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Originally Posted by Biciclista

THey wanted to total it too.
I got my car fixed!!

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Apologize in advance for the minor hijack here...but this got me thinking, and I'm curious....
If a car is deemed "totaled" by your insurance company, and you take the check and get the car repaired and back on the road...can you get insurance for it, or will the insurance company(s) deny you?

You can't even put it on the road until you get an inspection and a new title. Once you've done that, you can get insurance.

Different states are different in how they handle salvage titles (which is basically the same as a homemade vehicle). Unsurprisingly, it's easier in states that regulate their vehicles less. I've been told you can't do it at all in California, but don't know whether that's true or not.


BUT... was this accident your fault, or is there another insurance company involved? If you're working off of someone else's liability, rather than your own collision coverage, you should be entitled to replacement value.

We had a car totaled in the early 90's. It was purchased and repaired by the owner of a salvage yard. I am not sure how he got it road legal again. I only know he repaired it because he called and asked to purchase the owners manuals.

The insurance company actually paid us 7k more than we paid for the car. It was a 1991 Audi 100, purchased used when Audi was still living under their mid 80's "sudden acceleration" reputation. By the time of the accident they were a reputable car company again and it showed in their value. We had purchased the car less than a year old, with less than 10k miles and for about half it's original sticker price. We were fans and it replaced our 1988 Audi 80.

So glad you were not hurt.
Hope you can get on the road soon in a comparable vehicle without a payment.

Look at the photo again.

I doubt the frame is bent.

I'd say you're lucky it's a Civic, because there are thousands in that age range still on the road, and you'll probably be able to find a door at a salvage yard. The insurance company will know how to tell you to procure the care and title it. If you want to keep the car, your check will be a little less, but you'll still have some funds to buy another door.

Remember, the insurance company's idea of it being "fixed" might be a higher standard than yours. You may be able to find a door with that exact same color.

Karen

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Originally Posted by 7rider

Apologize in advance for the minor hijack here...but this got me thinking, and I'm curious....
If a car is deemed "totaled" by your insurance company, and you take the check and get the car repaired and back on the road...can you get insurance for it, or will the insurance company(s) deny you?

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Yes. The first time my Honda was totaled (someone stole the door off it)
I kept the title and took the money and bought a used door and went on driving it.

Since my car's being totaled didn't actually have structural damage, we didn't have to have it reinspected.

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Originally Posted by Biciclista

Yes. The first time my Honda was totaled (someone stole the door off it)
I kept the title and took the money and bought a used door and went on driving it.

Since my car's being totaled didn't actually have structural damage, we didn't have to have it reinspected.

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Interesting, as when I reached a property settlement on my destroyed bike, I had to bring it to my attorney's office when I picked up the property check because the insurance company was taking possession of my bike.
I paid a teeny bit to do a salvage buy-back of my wheelset, so that I could exercise the warranty replacement.

Considering you and I (MM_QFC) live in the same neighborhood, I would say that it must vary from case to case. However, both times my car was totaled, I only had to deal with my own insurance company because in the first case, the thieves were never found, and in the second, the other driver was uninsured.

Mimi--they stole your door? Like, you walked out to go to work and your car had no door? Wow. Hey, maybe Owlie can go lift a door off a car somewhere :rolleyes:

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Originally Posted by 7rider

Apologize in advance for the minor hijack here...but this got me thinking, and I'm curious....
If a car is deemed "totaled" by your insurance company, and you take the check and get the car repaired and back on the road...can you get insurance for it, or will the insurance company(s) deny you?

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With USAA - they totaled our vehicle, wrote a check.. We kept said vehicle, had to put a salvage title on it, and dropped the insurance to liability only. They are only going to pay out on a vehicle once.

Oddly enough though, if you switch companies, you can probably put full coverage on it again. I had a truck I switched to USAA with a previous salvage title, and they let me do full coverage on it.

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Originally Posted by tulip

Hey, maybe Owlie can go lift a door off a car somewhere :rolleyes:

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Yeah, like off my brother's Honda Civic, which isn't running and is available for cannibalization. :D

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Originally Posted by Tuckervill

I'd say you're lucky it's a Civic, because there are thousands in that age range still on the road, and you'll probably be able to find a door at a salvage yard.

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Yup, and it's even the most popular color for these cars, too: silver. I think getting a replacement door, even without my bro's largesse, would not be hard for this car.

Liability for the accident has not (to my knowledge) been determined yet, but I am pretty sure the other driver will be found to be at fault.

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Originally Posted by pumpkinpony

With USAA - they totaled our vehicle, wrote a check.. We kept said vehicle, had to put a salvage title on it, and dropped the insurance to liability only. They are only going to pay out on a vehicle once.

Oddly enough though, if you switch companies, you can probably put full coverage on it again. I had a truck I switched to USAA with a previous salvage title, and they let me do full coverage on it.

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no, again, it depends. I got full coverage on my car after it was stolen, recovered totaled and repaired from the same company..

I just have to laugh...it is nice to know that other people run their vehicles into the ground too. I am a bit heartbroken that it is time to replace my 1995 acura integra that has 198000 miles on it. The a/c is broken and the radiator needs replacing and I just as soon put the money into a new honda or acura than my old one.

Only 198K miles? Oh, c'mon, abejita! Your car is a pup! A baby! Young! :-D

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I've never been given a door before, but wow, what a GREAT present! My brother showed up yesterday afternoon with the driver's door off his 1996 Honda Civic, which used to be my Honda Civic. I sold it to him when I bought the '98 Civic I can now drive again, because we put the '96 door on my car and I am good to go!!!

Granted, the only window that can be rolled down is the driver's window (electric windows on the other three doors now not operable because the "new" door doesn't have the controls for them), and I need two different keys for the car (but have only one, for the passenger side, because neither one of us realized that hey! the lock is NOT the same! until after the door was on the car and I got ready to lock it [the Doh! moment of the day]), and I now have a smashed car door in my shed, but I can drive the car again, yay!!!

But we want to know: does it match??

Glad it worked out for you.

Hee hee.

Glad it worked out. Hope you get a big check from her insurance.

And I'll bet you can wire in a dashboard switch for the other windows. You're gonna need them, as hot as it's been. Better yet, you could just screw the old switch onto your new door to match the "fabulous" theme. ;)

Switch the lock on the wrecked door with the lock on the "new" door.

Glad it worked out.

Karen

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Originally Posted by owlice

(My second split-second thought while the other car was hitting mine was something along the lines of "Gee, I hope I don't have to go to the hospital; I have on old underwear!" I wish I were kidding about this... but ~~ sigh ~~ I'm not... :o )

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You should be proud of that moment. That is hilarious.

My car is a 1998 Ford Escort. I had the same situation about 5 years ago. I was waiting at a stop sign and a snow plow backed into me. Insurance declared it totaled and gave us $1600 since I said we wanted to keep the vehicle and fix it anyway. I think they were going to give us $2000 if we didn't keep it. I don't want to buy a car for $2000. It wouldn't run. The mechanic fixed it for as close to $1600 as he could. We paid the difference. It wasn't much, so I was happy.

We were able to get it fixed for less because I guess one of the things they do is paint it to match the rest of the car, and after the car is this old it has faded quite a bit. I could barely tell that the hood was a brighter white than the rest of the car, and after a few months when it was equally dirty I couldn't tell at all. The front and rear bumpers are now black, on a white car. Since then I've noticed a LOT of cars have black bumpers and I wonder if that is intentional or just a cheaper way to get the bumper fixed. It's not noticeable, not like having a blue door or something.

I just wanted the car to run, and be safe. It's stupid to pay for cosmetics on an old car.

I guess technically we were supposed to get a salvage title, but we never got any paperwork on that. We don't intend to sell this car, we are going to drive it as long as it will run, so it doesn't really matter.

Wow. Glad you are okay, OP!

It makes sense that they would total it. The car that was SUPPOSED to be my first car (a 1989 Chevy Suburban) was totaled in 2001. We used it to pull our horse trailer. We paid $800.00 for it and it was a good car. We took good care of it for 2 years and then my Dad had to go on a business trip. Rather than bring the nice car, he took the hay mobile. It was stolen from the airport. The took the AC unit, the stereo, and the back doors.

Turns out whoever stole it, stole it for scrap. If we could have gotten the doors, we would have bought it back from the insurance company. Not having a payment was what really mattered and the salvage costs could have been minimal IF we could have found doors (which we couldn't).

A civic is a lot different. And I understand why you want to keep it. We have a 97 accord that was "my" car growing up. It still runs great. Plenty of issues with the pain, has a ding in the windshield, and the windows don't work, but it gets my sister from point A to point B. You should be able to find a door if that frame isn't bent. Shouldn't cost that much.

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Originally Posted by tulip

But we want to know: does it match??

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Yup! Both cars are silver.

I hadn't noticed until the new door was on, but one of the differences between the cars (the older a DX, the newer an LX) was that mine had a strip of silver metal running around along the bottom edge of the window, instead of just the black edging. So the driver's side window doesn't have that shiny silver piece now; I can live with that!