Showing posts from February, 2020

How do insurers decide whether to total my car?

How do insurers decide whether to total my car? A car insurance company's decision to total a car depends on the extent of the damage following an accident. Car insurance companies take into account several factors when deciding whether to total your car, including: Repair estimates List value Salvage value State laws, if applicable While each car insurance company approaches the decision differently, many insurers declare the vehicle a total loss if the estimated cost of repairs plus the salvage value equals or exceeds the car's actual cash value. The actual cash value is a car's fair market value – or, replacement cost less depreciation. Adjusters typically determine a car's actual cash value by looking to their company's proprietary database of values. Some insurers total the car if repair costs exceed a certain percentage of the car's actual cash value. Common thresholds for totaling a vehicle are 51 percent or 80 percent of the value, at...

Popular Posts

Car insurance for young drivers - the key facts

Complaints of car owners against insurers and what MTIBU does

Insurers and fraudsters - the confrontation continues

What is insurance?

How much are overpaying for policies?