What happens to a totaled car?
When a car is severely damaged, it is usually taken to a salvage yard, auctioned off, and chopped up for parts. The insurance company keeps the money it got at the auction. If you decide you want to keep your car and repair it, you should be able to do so. Many insurers will usually return the car to you if you request it. Certain insurers won’t return a car if it’s rare or newer, and the insurer thinks it will get a substantial sum at auction. Unfortunately, this is a bad time to find out whether your insurance company is policy-holder friendly or not. If your car is returned, the insurer will have to pay the car’s actual cash value, minus your deductible and the amount the company would have received in an auction. Then you’re going to have to pay for repairs. That’s where the next problem arises-insurers can refuse coverage for a totaled car beyond basic liability insurance unless the car passes a Department of Motor Vehicles inspection. If you want complete coverage on your totaled
