# Hmmm ... do I want my car to be totaled or not? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [December 22, 2014, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hmmm-do-i-want-my-car-to-be-totaled-or-not/707923 "2014-12-22T16:35:28Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 3\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Rick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9f8e36/32.png) [@Rick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2014, 2:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hmmm-do-i-want-my-car-to-be-totaled-or-not/707923/21 "2014-12-26T02:46:22Z")
> [@Beelzebubba](#): > > I’ve worked in the insurance industry for almost 10 years as an Independent Agent, Claims Adjuster and now as a Premium Auditor and Fraud Investigator for Large Commercial policies. I can attest to the fact that Cincinnati is one of the most fair and ethical companies I’ve dealt with over the years. The same goes for USAA, Auto-Owners and AMICA. State Farm is commonly referred to as State Harm or Snake Farm within the industry…enough said. > > Your best scenario will be if the car is totaled and you get fair settlement for it. Then you can purchase the car back for salvage value ($500 or so) and only have the repairs required to make it safe and legal to drive for now. If you choose, you can address any cosmetic repairs in the future when you can afford it. :::shrug::: I have State Farm. I was rear ended twice. In the first case it was minor, they took care of it and I got my deductible as soon as the other company paid. The second accident totaled my Volvo. Looking around eBay, KBB, my own used car department, NADA, and severL sources I was coming up with about 6K for the car. They paid just over 10K. No complaints here. ---
**Author:** ![lel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8797f3/32.png) [@lel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lel)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2014, 3:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hmmm-do-i-want-my-car-to-be-totaled-or-not/707923/22 "2014-12-26T03:59:58Z")
> [@Boyo\_Jim](#): > > Update – my car is in fact totaled. > > I was really shocked at the payment offer they made – $5620, far more than I expected. I have accepted the offer. Getting a ballpark estimate at some sources like [nadaguides.com](http://nadaguides.com) and [autotrader.com](http://autotrader.com) , I would have expected an offer higher than $3300, but probably not quite $5620. Make sure to get an explicit statement tomorrow on how long they will pay for the rental. You don’t want to get stuck with an unexpected rental bill and it sounds like it has been about ten days since the accident already. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2014, 4:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hmmm-do-i-want-my-car-to-be-totaled-or-not/707923/23 "2014-12-26T04:48:54Z")
> [@lel](#): > > Getting a ballpark estimate at some sources like [nadaguides.com](http://nadaguides.com) and [autotrader.com](http://autotrader.com) , I would have expected an offer higher than $3300, but probably not quite $5620. > > Make sure to get an explicit statement tomorrow on how long they will pay for the rental. You don’t want to get stuck with an unexpected rental bill and it sounds like it has been about ten days since the accident already. I have the rental for 14 days after they cut my check And in another shocking development, I mentioned in an email that I would be going to the DMV for a copy of my title 'cause I was no longer sure where it was, the adjuster threw on another hundred bucks for my time and whatever fees I would incur in getting the copy. I didn’t ask for it nor did I expect it. He’d already made his offer and I’d already accepted it, not to mention I figured having the title to my car was my responsibility, accident or not. Unfortunately I won’t get my check cut until Jan 5 or later as both their local adjusters are on vacation over the holidays. They had already agree to extend my rental because of that, so I will have the rental until at least Jan 19. Well, not necessarily – if I buy a replacement earlier, I will be expected to return the rental the next business day. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hmmm-do-i-want-my-car-to-be-totaled-or-not/707923.md?page=1)