Going through the car totaling process
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Is there major body damage? Panels/doors not lining up correctly, etc.? If not, I would try to get a settlement & try to get it fixed somewhere cheaper, good used Corollas hold their resale value well, even with a slightly dinged Carfax.
In the past when the insurance company totaled my mom's and sister's cars, they never picked them up. We sold them afterwards. One, I wish we had kept and fixed the body damage.
Total it. If you can buy it cheap, then think about paying someone to do a cheap repair job and see how it runs/drives, while you keep a chunk of cash. Otherwise, its not worth dealing with having an unknown.
Total it. If you can buy it cheap, then think about paying someone to do a cheap repair job and see how it runs/drives, while you keep a chunk of cash. Otherwise, its not worth dealing with having an unknown.
Total it.
Let it go. No one hurt is the main thing.
Originally Posted By: JC1
That car will never be the same...
+2
+3
+4
and more... Let it go and get a newer corolla with the money.
Regards, JC.
This...
Insist on the insurance company totaling it.
I was unfortunate enough when I was younger to have a seriously damaged VW Rabbit GTI repaired, and yes it cost as much to repair it as it cost when new...what a whopping mistake, as I had nothing but problems after the work was finished.
That car will never be the same...
+2
+3
+4
and more... Let it go and get a newer corolla with the money.
Regards, JC.
This...
Insist on the insurance company totaling it.
I was unfortunate enough when I was younger to have a seriously damaged VW Rabbit GTI repaired, and yes it cost as much to repair it as it cost when new...what a whopping mistake, as I had nothing but problems after the work was finished.
I still think that shop's trying to pull a fast one.
Whether the car is totaled should be based on the cost of the repair, NOT who pays it.
From the shop's point of view, it's win-win. They get to perform thousands of dollars worth of repairs, you get a fully repaired vehicle without a salvage title, which preserves its resale value.
The people who get hosed are all the future owners of that vehicle, who may unwittingly be buying a salvaged vehicle without knowing it was once totaled.
Whether the car is totaled should be based on the cost of the repair, NOT who pays it.
From the shop's point of view, it's win-win. They get to perform thousands of dollars worth of repairs, you get a fully repaired vehicle without a salvage title, which preserves its resale value.
The people who get hosed are all the future owners of that vehicle, who may unwittingly be buying a salvaged vehicle without knowing it was once totaled.
Id it drive-able if you remove that fender and bumper?
Originally Posted By: zzyzzx
Id it drive-able if you remove that fender and bumper?
Not really. There is a small coolant leak (from radiator) and left front suspension is slightly bent. I'm still waiting for the USAA bureaucracy to make some sort of decision. Day 4 passed and nothing happened yet. I slowly started looking at comparable cars though.
Id it drive-able if you remove that fender and bumper?
Not really. There is a small coolant leak (from radiator) and left front suspension is slightly bent. I'm still waiting for the USAA bureaucracy to make some sort of decision. Day 4 passed and nothing happened yet. I slowly started looking at comparable cars though.
ls1mike
$50 Site Donor 2025
Holy poop. I would just be happy she is alright!
Glad you are looking at different cars. That thing looks hammered. If it were just hood and fenders no biggie. That thing is bent!
Glad you are looking at different cars. That thing looks hammered. If it were just hood and fenders no biggie. That thing is bent!
There's no way I'd worry about fixing that. I'd be happy if it were totaled. I've seen less damage on new cars --which got totaled.
Originally Posted By: Hollow
Totaled. Start shopping.
I would like to hear it from USAA though. So far no decision yet on day # 5.
However, looks like the shop is stalling the estimate process as much as they can. They are probably going to milk the insurance for "storage fee" in case repair is not approved.
Totaled. Start shopping.
I would like to hear it from USAA though. So far no decision yet on day # 5.
However, looks like the shop is stalling the estimate process as much as they can. They are probably going to milk the insurance for "storage fee" in case repair is not approved.
Always consider a 'buy back' when your car is totaled.
I did this a couple of times when I wanted the vehicle after they paid me. The last time we did it was with a 2000 Savana 3500. After payoff I offered them $600 and they said fine.
We then sold the engine, trans, doors, seats, etc. and made tons of cash. Finally the junkyard gave us 200 bucks for the leftovers!
I did this a couple of times when I wanted the vehicle after they paid me. The last time we did it was with a 2000 Savana 3500. After payoff I offered them $600 and they said fine.
We then sold the engine, trans, doors, seats, etc. and made tons of cash. Finally the junkyard gave us 200 bucks for the leftovers!
Originally Posted By: SteveSRT8
We then sold the engine, trans, doors, seats, etc. and made tons of cash. Finally the junkyard gave us 200 bucks for the leftovers!
Great idea. Did you sell the parts locally, or had to ship them out?
We then sold the engine, trans, doors, seats, etc. and made tons of cash. Finally the junkyard gave us 200 bucks for the leftovers!
Great idea. Did you sell the parts locally, or had to ship them out?
Beware - used Corollas go for big bucks at the IAA auction, they get exported south of the border and rebuilt. They will offer to sell it to you at what they expect to get at auction, which will be quite a bit. I was floored when I saw Corollas in as bad of shape as yours going for $2000+.
Right before it was a Cavalier that drove and had some minor sheetmetal damage, it went for $50!
Right before it was a Cavalier that drove and had some minor sheetmetal damage, it went for $50!
Update: It's officially totaled. Finally, the USAA appraiser bothered to return my calls. It will take some more (unknown amount) time before total loss USAA people will contact me. Very bad customer service.
As a BITOGer, I find it upsetting I just did a full fluids/filters change (engine, tranny, brakes, coolant, PS, etc) at 91000 miles and car is totaled at 93,000. It was even with brand new tires and a full tank of gas.
Same thing was with the Subaru I used to own. I used all premium/synthetic fluids and new tires at 60,000 miles and the car was totaled shortly after.
Both times if was the other drivers that caused the collision.
I really should cure myself of the BITOG illness and stop overmaintaning my cars!
As a BITOGer, I find it upsetting I just did a full fluids/filters change (engine, tranny, brakes, coolant, PS, etc) at 91000 miles and car is totaled at 93,000. It was even with brand new tires and a full tank of gas.
Same thing was with the Subaru I used to own. I used all premium/synthetic fluids and new tires at 60,000 miles and the car was totaled shortly after.
Both times if was the other drivers that caused the collision.
I really should cure myself of the BITOG illness and stop overmaintaning my cars!
Originally Posted By: friendly_jacek
Originally Posted By: SteveSRT8
We then sold the engine, trans, doors, seats, etc. and made tons of cash. Finally the junkyard gave us 200 bucks for the leftovers!
Great idea. Did you sell the parts locally, or had to ship them out?
Sold them ALL locally. This was a one ton van so they are fairly rare and have nice heavy duty parts that are in demand.
Good luck to ya! Note that I got old tires and put them on the van with my body shop's help when we suspected it would be totaled.
Originally Posted By: SteveSRT8
We then sold the engine, trans, doors, seats, etc. and made tons of cash. Finally the junkyard gave us 200 bucks for the leftovers!
Great idea. Did you sell the parts locally, or had to ship them out?
Sold them ALL locally. This was a one ton van so they are fairly rare and have nice heavy duty parts that are in demand.
Good luck to ya! Note that I got old tires and put them on the van with my body shop's help when we suspected it would be totaled.
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