Fiji ST Posted August 17, 2021 Report Share Posted August 17, 2021 A buddy of mine got hit last month, which caused damage to the front bumper, headlight/foglight, passenger fender and door. They cut him an initial check for the repairs. But once at the body shop and they actually came out to inspect it, they're now telling him it's totaled. Body shop says there is no frame damage and it's purely cosmetic. Is it possible to talk an insurance company into not totaling out a car due to a part supply issue? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gillbot Posted August 17, 2021 Report Share Posted August 17, 2021 Just take the check and arrange to buy it back? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mace1647545504 Posted August 17, 2021 Report Share Posted August 17, 2021 Just take the check and arrange to buy it back? this..BUT..take pics and get all info from the body shop when ready for resale Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fiji ST Posted August 18, 2021 Author Report Share Posted August 18, 2021 Just take the check and arrange to buy it back? But doesn’t he have to get everything fixed and inspected before he can retitle it? He was just going to keep driving it as-is and not fix it. Also there’s concern that his insurance won’t insure it with a bad title. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buck531 Posted August 18, 2021 Report Share Posted August 18, 2021 I had my insurance company "total" my wife's 95 buick 15 or so years ago to hail damage. they cut me a decent check. had the back window replaced. Said to hell with the hail damage. Drove it for another 5 years. They didn't touch the title. I would just tell insurance to cut you a check for what they could w/o totaling the car and just have it fixed cheaper (used panels, etc). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gillbot Posted August 18, 2021 Report Share Posted August 18, 2021 But doesn’t he have to get everything fixed and inspected before he can retitle it? He was just going to keep driving it as-is and not fix it. Also there’s concern that his insurance won’t insure it with a bad title. I'm no insurance expert, but basically they don't want to pay to get it fixed because it's cheaper for their bottom line to total it out. You have to take over that responsibility so they don't have to or you have to follow their rules. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blue98ls1 Posted August 18, 2021 Report Share Posted August 18, 2021 I have worked with a lot of insurance companies to do a max payout without making it a total loss. But these where vehicles we were fixing ourselves. Keeps the title from being a salvage title. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fiji ST Posted August 18, 2021 Author Report Share Posted August 18, 2021 I have worked with a lot of insurance companies to do a max payout without making it a total loss. But these where vehicles we were fixing ourselves. Keeps the title from being a salvage title. I'd love to get some tips if you wouldn't mind sharing them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Forrest Gump 9 Posted August 18, 2021 Report Share Posted August 18, 2021 Iirc, you can buy the car back at 10% of the value. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
downingracing Posted August 18, 2021 Report Share Posted August 18, 2021 If they do total it, the buyback will be based on the going rate for the car in the condition it is in (using like copart prices). I've had totalled cars I've been able to buy back for pennies on the value and others priced so high they were not worth buying back (scrap value was almost as much as the cars value due to parts demand). Good luck! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cruizin01 Posted August 18, 2021 Report Share Posted August 18, 2021 If they do total it, the buyback will be based on the going rate for the car in the condition it is in (using like copart prices). I've had totalled cars I've been able to buy back for pennies on the value and others priced so high they were not worth buying back (scrap value was almost as much as the cars value due to parts demand). Good luck! ^ This. My wife totaled our X3 and the buyback was barely under what I could have bought another one for. It was a good car and I could have got parts for cheap but to have a that much $$$ in a salvaged car just didn't make any sense. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rocky31186 Posted August 23, 2021 Report Share Posted August 23, 2021 I was hit by an uninsured driver. I didn't want the truck totalled but they didn't care and totalled it. I fought for a month negotiating back and forth what the truck should be valued at. Once we agreed on the price we then negotiated me keeping the truck, at first buy back was over 2k, negotiated down to 1k to buy it back. Replaced the door and fender, had it inspected at the state highway patrol and got my rebuilt title. It's not overly difficult to do, dealing with insurance and negotiating was the worst. Any questions shoot me a message. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fiji ST Posted August 23, 2021 Author Report Share Posted August 23, 2021 I was hit by an uninsured driver. I didn't want the truck totalled but they didn't care and totalled it. I fought for a month negotiating back and forth what the truck should be valued at. Once we agreed on the price we then negotiated me keeping the truck, at first buy back was over 2k, negotiated down to 1k to buy it back. Replaced the door and fender, had it inspected at the state highway patrol and got my rebuilt title. It's not overly difficult to do, dealing with insurance and negotiating was the worst. Any questions shoot me a message. Just talked to my friend and they’re totaling it. They’re offering him a ridiculous amount for his car, but they did offer him to let him buy it for about a 1/5 of their offer and cut him a check for the rest. So if he goes the route you did, does he just have to replace the panels that were damaged, get it checked and he can get it retitled? It sounds way too easy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rocky31186 Posted August 23, 2021 Report Share Posted August 23, 2021 Yes however parts must be bought with proof and vin number on it. I bought all of my parts from local junk yards. Whatever they offered he needs to negotiate and get more for the value and less on the buy back. It's all a numbers game. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fiji ST Posted August 23, 2021 Author Report Share Posted August 23, 2021 Yes however parts must be bought with proof and vin number on it. I bought all of my parts from local junk yards. Whatever they offered he needs to negotiate and get more for the value and less on the buy back. It's all a numbers game. Good to know. Did you have those parts painted, or just show them the stickers and paperwork, then paint? I told him to offer them lower on the buy-back. They're giving him an absurd amount to total the car ('13 Fiat 500). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RCode04 Posted August 23, 2021 Report Share Posted August 23, 2021 They're giving him an absurd amount to total the car ('13 Fiat 500). Heck, I will throw in some $$$ to have one less of those on the road. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rocky31186 Posted August 23, 2021 Report Share Posted August 23, 2021 Good to know. Did you have those parts painted, or just show them the stickers and paperwork, then paint? I told him to offer them lower on the buy-back. They're giving him an absurd amount to total the car ('13 Fiat 500). No paint, just has to be safe to be on the road. My receipt for doors and fender had vin numbers on it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
downingracing Posted August 23, 2021 Report Share Posted August 23, 2021 I fixed my last 'total' with sheet metal screws in the bumper cover to hold it on and duct tape to cover the screw heads. Weatherstrip adhesive in the trunk to seal the gap from being rear ended. Inspection was super easy and rebuilt title issued with that inspection paperwork. They are really looking for stolen parts and seemed to care none about the car's actual ability to be driven. That car had an aftermarket steering wheel installed (Airbag removed) and no working horn. Big old crack in the windshield and dark tint on the windows. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
STEVE-O Posted August 23, 2021 Report Share Posted August 23, 2021 Who the hell wants to own let alone buy back and fix a fiat 500??? Take the money and run Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fiji ST Posted August 24, 2021 Author Report Share Posted August 24, 2021 Who the hell wants to own let alone buy back and fix a fiat 500??? Take the money and run Because it’s almost impossible to find something half decent for the amount he’s getting. Plus if he can get it on the road again for cheap, he will just run it into the ground and have a nice chunk saved as well. It’s honestly been a great car for him with minimal problems. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mustangman2011 Posted August 24, 2021 Report Share Posted August 24, 2021 If it just cosmetic and drivable they will issue a rebuilt title after OSP inspects it. I had a car with just cosmetic damage and the cop looked at it for like a minute. The only pain in the fees and process it normally takes a few weeks to get it done. They wont schedule an inspection appointment till you ever have the title changed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fiji ST Posted August 24, 2021 Author Report Share Posted August 24, 2021 If it just cosmetic and drivable they will issue a rebuilt title after OSP inspects it. I had a car with just cosmetic damage and the cop looked at it for like a minute. The only pain in the fees and process it normally takes a few weeks to get it done. They wont schedule an inspection appointment till you ever have the title changed. But don’t you have to have the car inspected first before you can get the title changed? Or is my lack of coffee brain this morning confused? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mustangman2011 Posted August 24, 2021 Report Share Posted August 24, 2021 Its been awhile but first they change it to a salvage title then after it it inspected a rebuilt title. I think it was a couple of hundred in fees for the titles, inspections fees, and registration change Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fiji ST Posted August 24, 2021 Author Report Share Posted August 24, 2021 Its been awhile but first they change it to a salvage title then after it it inspected a rebuilt title. I think it was a couple of hundred in fees for the titles, inspections fees, and registration change Good to know, thanks for the information. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rocky31186 Posted August 25, 2021 Report Share Posted August 25, 2021 My buy back was 1k$, 50$ inspection fee, you can not drive it while under salvage title and actually can't even have plates on it, once inspected you get a new title for 20$ I believe it was. Very easy process Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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