after a car accident how will I know whether or not my car should be totalled or not?

Answer 1

It doesn't have to cost more than the actual car to have it totaled. There are different percentages for each state depending on the year of your vehicle. For example, your car could be totaled if the cost of repairs exceeds 70% of it's value. Your insurance company decides it according to state law.
And for the record, Kelley Blue Book is inaccurate because it offers nation averages. A good insurance company will make a market study and see what your car would sell for where you live. It might sell for more or less than what KBB says. Each insurance company may use it's own tools or guides for deciding market price, Kelley Blue Book is aimed more at consumers than anything else.

Answer 2

Depending on the age of the vehicle and if the air bags blew OR if it's a rollover OR water entered the vehicle--it's a total. Otherwise, the body shop will tell you and communicate this to your insurance company and you. Some states, like Nevada, have a threshold law stating if the cost of repairs exceed a certain percentage of the value of the vehicle, it's a total.

Answer 3

Every state has it's own set of rules but most say that a vehicle is declared a total loss when cost to repair exceeds 75% of it's market value. Some go to 100%, some less --

Answer 4

Also remember that with an older car especially, they may be willing to write it off at book value and leave it with you. Enough repairs to make it drivable may be a lot less than they paid you. You just can't have collision insurance on it anymore because the insurance company has already paid for everything.

Answer 5

In many states, if the cost to repair exceeds 75% of the car's value, it is totaled.

Answer 6

Once your insurance is notified of the accident, they will send an adjuster to look at the damages. They will let you know if your car is to be totaled. It's amazing to me the little amount of damage it takes for it to be totaled too.

Answer 7

That is not for you to decide..your insurance company will make that decision..If you don't have insurance then you find out how much it would cost to fix your car, and how much your car was worth..Kelly Blue book it..if it cost about the same or more than your car was worth to repair it..junk it.

Answer 8

If the vehicle is insured, the insurance company will tell you. If it is uninsured then only you can decide if you would rather pay the money to fix the o,ld vehicle or put the money into getting another vehicle.

Answer 9

If the cost to fix the damages if worth more than your car is, then you would want to total it. The mechanic will tell you how much it would cost to fix.
-Good Luck

Answer 10

If the cost of repairs are more than the actual value of your veh, then it may be a total.