Question by world.travler.17: Is there ever a choice by the consumer in totaling a car vs. repairing it after a major accident? Any advise?
I was t-boned in my driver door in my 2007 car. Three air bags were deployed and driver door had to be cut off to get me out. (VERY fortunately, I am safe and sound.) The Kelley Blue Book value is $ 18,675 and the repair estimate is $ 14,000. Financially, it is slightly better for me to repair the wrecked car but long run, I think it is better for the insurance company to declair the car a total loss. I am concerned about owning and reselling a car with a Carfax report stating that there has been so much damage. Do I have any say/pull in the decision and is there a better choice here?
The insurance company wants to pay the $ 14,000 to fix the car. I think I might be getting screwed.
Best answer:
Answer by nigelshiftright
You don’t really have any choice but from your numbers I doubt the car would be repaired. The Kelley prices are artificially high and the insurance company won’t use that number anyway.
As soon as they hit about 80% of what they think is fair market value (lower than the Kelley number) they will total the car.
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