Just a question. Isn't it correct that if there is significant frame damage a car is considered totalled? My question is to what extent must the frame be damaged...to the point where it is irreparable? if it is bent at a certain location? or is it dependent on insurance or some case-to-case basis? thanks.

 

I'd Have to go with the Case To Case, If a body shop can't get it back to factory specs, or if it'll cost more to bring it back to factory spec than the car is worth... but then again, i'm probably talking out of my butt!

 

Check with your state's law and insurance carrier, but it generally goes something like this:

They take the market value of your vehicle the instance right before the accident occurred. This is how much it would cost to replace the vehicle to the condition it was before the accident.

Then they get two estimates on the car in the post-accident conditions: one to get the cost of repairs necessary to restore it to the condition before the accident, and the other is to get the price of salvage, basically if they hauled it to a junkyard what would they get for it.

So take those numbers, crunch a little math, and determine whether or not to determine the vehicle a total loss.

For them, this is generally how they do it:

* if it costs less to repair the vehicle, they'll do it
* if the cost of repair plus the salvage value exceeds the vehicle value, they'll declare it a total loss and pay you for the car, then salvage it. They'll pay out less money that way.

And of course some states have law regulating how much damage and the kind of damage that would require a total loss declaration.

 

Alright, that's something what I kinda assumed. Thanks a lot for the info.

 

In NC they will only repair your vehicle if the cost of repair does not exceed 75% of the vehicles worth at time of damage.