Can you ask your insurance company to total your car? (Negotiate a Write-Off)

When your car is damaged in a major accident, and you file a car insurance claim, the insurance company assigns a claims adjuster to review your case and make an assessment of the total damage and repair costs for your car. The car insurance company will decide whether to total your car if the cost of repairs reaches a certain percentage of your car’s overall value.

In the event of an accident, you might be asking questions. What does it mean when an insurance company totals a car? Can I ask insurance to total my car?

We know it can be frustrating to find answers to questions like this, so we’ve done the research for you. Keep reading to learn everything you need to know about a totaled vehicle, how insurance companies determine whether or not to total your car, and more.

Before we answer, “Can I ask my insurance company to total my car?” Make sure you have the right coverage for your situation so you’re prepared if your vehicle needs to be totaled by using your ZIP code to get a free quote on car insurance.

Summary Stats

Can I ask my insurance company to total my car?

You’re probably wondering, “do I have to pay insurance for a totaled car” After an accident, you can ask your insurance company to total your car, but they have a specific formula and approach that determines whether or not they’ll actually do so. There is no best way to total a car for insurance purposes, as it is at the insurer’s discretion. In the next few sections, we’ll cover how insurance companies declare a total loss and what you can do to influence their decision.

What value do insurance companies use to total a car?

Insurance companies often use a total loss formula (TLF) to determine whether or not to total a vehicle. Essentially, companies compare the estimated cost of repairs plus the salvage value (read our “How Car Insurance Companies Determine Salvage Value” for more information) to the actual cash value (ACV).

Insurance companies calculate the ACV of your vehicle by determining the price and value of your vehicle (often with sources like Kelley Blue Book).

Reach out to your claims adjuster to find out their estimated valuation for your vehicle. You’ll want to compare this estimated amount against the actual value of your car.

How much damage does it take for insurance to total a car?

To understand what amount of damage means a total loss, you’ll need to know your insurance carrier’s approach to the TLF, which you can speak to your claims adjuster and your insurance agent about. You’ll also need to be familiar with the laws in your state, which ultimately set the thresholds within which the insurance company must operate when determining total loss.

This table summarizes the total loss thresholds in every state.

Vehicle Total Loss Thresholds by State

As you can see, thresholds for total loss vary by state. For the states with a set threshold, the result of the TLF formula must be at or greater than the set percentage in order for a total loss to be declared.

Why won’t the insurance company total my car? Most likely because the TLF did not meet the threshold set by the state (or the insurance company, when the state doesn’t define a set percentage).

Can I negotiate with the insurance company?

If you think the cost of repairs that your car insurance company has set out is too low (which will affect whether or not your vehicle is declared a total loss), you are free to get another estimate on your own.

In general, the estimate you present to your insurance company is more likely to hold weight if it is an average of several auto repair shops in your area, at which point the insurer can’t say your repair estimate is unreasonable. (For more information, read our “Can my car insurance company make me use a specific car repair shop?“).

It’s important to know how to negotiate with car insurance loss adjusters about your car’s total loss settlement. Nolo provides the following tips:

• Do your research and know how much your auto insurance claim is worth
• Don’t immediately accept the first offer from the claims adjuster
• If the offer is low, ask for an explanation before providing your response
• Once you’ve outlined the facts, focus on the emotional arguments
• Conduct all settlement negotiations in writing (and get the settlement in writing as well)

You want to have a record of communications so you know the exact rationale for the settlement amount and why the insurer made the decision they did (declaring your vehicle a total loss or not). This is important to keep in mind when learning how to total a car with your insurance.

This negotiation is also key in how to get a new car after a total loss because it’s important to make sure you’re getting a fair settlement, which can help you afford a replacement vehicle.

Depending on how valuable your vehicle is, you may want to hire a lawyer to negotiate with the insurer so you can be sure you’re getting the best possible claim settlement in your situation.

Read more: Should I hire an attorney for my car insurance claim?

What happens if I’m the at-fault driver?

If you are at fault for a crash, your own car insurance policy will cover the physical damage to your vehicle. Depending on how the damage was incurred, either your comprehensive car insurance or collision coverage car insurance will apply.

If you are in an actual accident, your collision insurance would be the way you recover for the cost of the repairs, while if your vehicle was damaged in some other way (weather, vandalism, etc.) your comprehensive policy would cover the repairs. 

The limits of your comprehensive insurance or collision coverage will determine how much your insurer is required to pay out on your claim. If the damage to your car is more than the limits of your policy, you’ll have to pay the remainder out-of-pocket.

What about the claims process?

Under your current policy, you’ll need to follow the process outlined by your insurer to file a claim. But if you’re shopping for new coverage, you should ask a licensed insurance agent about how a company you’re considering handles claims before you decide whether to purchase a policy from them. You can also ask car insurance companies how they negotiate settlements so you have an idea of their settlement and negotiation policies and tactics.

In addition to finding the most affordable coverage, you want to make sure that you are working with an car insurance company that honors its policies and is known for processing claims effectively. You’ll also need to take into account their reputation for customer service, as well as what options for coverage are available.

For example, some car insurance companies offer more discounts than others, which might actually lower your rates more than you might expect.

What To Anticipate After An Accident

So you’ve been in an accident, you know your vehicle requires extensive repairs, and you’ve filed a claim. What’s next? How do you total a car? What is the easiest way to total a car? You’ll receive a notification from the company that a claims adjuster has been assigned to your case, and you should direct all of your questions about your claim to them.

But how do car insurance companies determine total loss? When does insurance write off a car? Is there a difference between how a car total loss not at fault situation and a car totaled at fault situation is handled? Read through the next few sections to find out the proper ways to total a car with insurance.

What types of insurance do you need for adequate coverage?

First of all, it’s helpful to have some understanding of the types of auto insurance coverage you might be dealing with and how they might help you if you’re involved in an accident or some other incident involving your car.

Liability insurance (bodily injury and property damage liability coverage) is required in most states, and it covers the other party’s damages in an automobile accident you caused.

Collision insurance pays for your repairs and injuries after an at-fault auto accident and comprehensive coverage pays for repairs after an incident not involving a collision. This includes damage from weather, natural disaster, and vandalism.

If you add gap insurance to your auto policy, your insurance provider will cover the difference between what you owe on your loan or lease and the value of your totaled car. If your car is not paid off, you should strongly consider adding gap coverage to your policy. You don’t want to be paying on an auto loan for a vehicle you no longer have. (For more information, read our “How do I find out if GAP insurance is included in my car lease?“).

Case Studies: Requesting Total Loss Assessment From Insurance Companies

Case Study 1: Extensive Damage After an Accident

John, the owner of a vehicle involved in a severe accident, filed a claim with his insurance company. The repair estimates for his car exceeded its current market value due to extensive damage. Concerned about the future reliability of his vehicle and potential safety issues, John wished to request his insurance company to assess the car as a total loss and provide a settlement.

Case Study 2: Irreparable Damage From a Natural Disaster

Sarah’s vehicle suffered significant damage during a severe storm. The insurance adjuster deemed the cost of repairing the car to be substantial, considering the extensive damage caused by the natural disaster. Sarah, aware of the potential long-term issues that could arise from repairing the vehicle, wished to request her insurance company to classify the car as a total loss and provide a settlement.

Case Study 3: High Repair Costs and Diminished Value

Mike’s vehicle was involved in an accident resulting in substantial damage. Upon receiving repair estimates, Mike discovered that the costs were disproportionately high compared to the car’s current market value.

Additionally, he learned that even after repairs, the vehicle’s resale value would be significantly diminished. Recognizing the financial implications of repairing the car, Mike requested his insurance company to assess it as a total loss and provide compensation accordingly.

Case Study 4: Salvage Title Considerations

Samantha’s vehicle was severely damaged in an accident. Although the repair costs were within the car’s market value, Samantha was concerned about potential safety issues and the future marketability of the vehicle due to its history of significant damage.

Wanting to avoid a salvage title designation, Samantha requested her insurance company to evaluate the car as a total loss and provide appropriate compensation.

Car Insurance and Totaling Your Vehicle: What’s the bottom line?

The decision of whether to declare your car a total loss or to cover the cost of repairing it will be entirely up to the auto insurance company.

While you may not necessarily want to have your car repaired after a major accident and prefer to receive a settlement check for its value immediately after the accident; this decision will not ultimately be up to you.

You do have the right to have your car repaired at the shop of your choice, but the car insurance company is only responsible for paying for a reasonable repair cost for your car. We hope you’ve found this guide on how to total a vehicle with your insurance helpful.

Before you go, use your ZIP code to start comparing rates to make sure you are covered for a totaled car.

1. https://www.kbb.com/articles/car-news/what-is-blue-book-value/#:~:text=The%20term%20%E2%80%9CBlue%20Book%20Value,industry%20in%20the%20United%20States.
2. https://www.nolo.com/legal-encyclopedia/negotiating-with-insurance-company-29765.html