Is my car totaled?
Insurance companies declare a car totaled when the cost to repair the vehicle exceeds a specific percentage of its pre-accident value, usually determined by state laws and the insurer's threshold. This uncertainty leaves vehicle owners anxious about whether they will lose an almost-paid-off car they desperately want saved.
What people tried
Every workaround mentioned in the threads below. We haven’t tested any of them — and nobody here is claiming they worked.
- 1Replacing the vehicle with a clean one
- 2Accepting an insurance write-off for parts
- 3mentally preparing for the vehicle to be totaled
- 4asking insurance
- 5paying a huge repair bill out of pocket
- 6doing the repairs yourself
In their words
Unedited, most upvoted first, each linked to the thread it came from.
“rlly is it that bad”source ↗
“yea me either i just wish i can keep it and do the repairs myself but Im financing this car so idk how stuff works when they deem it totaled”source ↗
“fuck me bro. Do yk what will happen to me because im financing it?”source ↗
“Is my Car Totaled?? i really am hoping this car will be saved 🙏”source ↗
“i’m praying they don’t total my car! it was almost paid off”source ↗
Where this came up
People with this problem also raised
- 7How to assess car damage and talk to a mechanic remotely
- 2Can I fix major car body damage myself?
- 2Can a dented car door be fixed or does it need to be replaced?
- 2What to do about car loan debt after a totaled car without full coverage
- 3How to tell if a broken car part needs immediate repair
- 2Are my brake rotors ruined if they glow blue after bedding?