The insurance company decided my car was totaled but I want it back. What do I do?

After your car is totaled and the insurance carrier gives you the fair market value for it, your car is auctioned off. Then it is usually chopped up for parts. However, if you want to keep your car and have it repaired, all you have to do is let the insurance company adjuster know prior to your insurance giving you a check. They will still give you a check for the value of car but they will subtract the likely price they would have received at auction. In effect, you are becoming the buyer of the now totaled car.

Beware, however, that when a car is totaled, the insurance company must report that information to the state. The title of the car will now read, ‘Insurance Salvage’ which lets everybody know that this car was once totaled. This makes the car substantially less valuable at resale. Also, the Washington State Patrol will have to inspect your vehicle before you can license it to certify that it is road worthy.

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