Since you called the insurance company and filed a claim, I don't think there's any going back once it's opened-- even if it's a zero dollar payout (like a not-at-fault accident), it's still a claim. This sort or ordeal isn't worth involving your insurance company over. Do you really have full coverage on a 2002 Accord?
To give you some insight on the salvage / repair title process, it completely depends on your state and what the laws are.
I had someone sideswipe me on the freeway in my '96 Maxima a couple years ago, smashed the passenger front fender up pretty good, and paint transfer / scratches on the front bumper cover. Other driver had same insurance company as I did, and Progressive attributed 100% fault to the other driver. They had me do a virtual inspection (due to covid) where I took pictures at multiple angles, and subsequently declared the car a total loss.
They gave me two options: $2000 payout and they collect the car, or $1700 payout and I keep the car. I chose the latter option.
The way it worked for me in Kentucky, is I had to go to the DMV and surrender my plates and obtain a SALVAGE title. The insurance company needed proof of this to issue the check. It took a couple days for my insurance company to verify this, but I had my check pretty quickly.
In KY, you can't get plates with a salvage title. You have to fix the car and get an inspection from the sheriff's office in order to obtain a REBUILT title. Once you have the inspection from the sheriff's office, you go back to the DMV to obtain the rebuilt title.
On my own vehicle it involved replacing a $10 parking light lens, and a $40 fender, so about $50 total in repairs. Bonus was that the donor vehicle at junkyard was exact same color as mine. Add about $50 in titling fees, so I was $100 all in. The sheriff's inspection involved him walking around the vehicle real quick and checking to make sure the lights worked. Once I got my rebuilt title, nothing is different-- it insures and registers just like any other vehicle. No safety or emissions inspection here.
To give you some insight on the salvage / repair title process, it completely depends on your state and what the laws are.
I had someone sideswipe me on the freeway in my '96 Maxima a couple years ago, smashed the passenger front fender up pretty good, and paint transfer / scratches on the front bumper cover. Other driver had same insurance company as I did, and Progressive attributed 100% fault to the other driver. They had me do a virtual inspection (due to covid) where I took pictures at multiple angles, and subsequently declared the car a total loss.
They gave me two options: $2000 payout and they collect the car, or $1700 payout and I keep the car. I chose the latter option.
The way it worked for me in Kentucky, is I had to go to the DMV and surrender my plates and obtain a SALVAGE title. The insurance company needed proof of this to issue the check. It took a couple days for my insurance company to verify this, but I had my check pretty quickly.
In KY, you can't get plates with a salvage title. You have to fix the car and get an inspection from the sheriff's office in order to obtain a REBUILT title. Once you have the inspection from the sheriff's office, you go back to the DMV to obtain the rebuilt title.
On my own vehicle it involved replacing a $10 parking light lens, and a $40 fender, so about $50 total in repairs. Bonus was that the donor vehicle at junkyard was exact same color as mine. Add about $50 in titling fees, so I was $100 all in. The sheriff's inspection involved him walking around the vehicle real quick and checking to make sure the lights worked. Once I got my rebuilt title, nothing is different-- it insures and registers just like any other vehicle. No safety or emissions inspection here.
