my 2007 dodge caliber was totaled in a wreck and i'm having a hard time getting a new car. my insurance company says that it was a total loss and it can't be fixed. i'm also still having to pay for the car after the insurance company paid their part because i didn't have GAP insurance. can i do anything? am i crazy for thinking that it can be fixed? what to do. somebody please give me some advice.
2007-09-08 17:09:21 · 5 answers · asked by Mike M 1 in Cars & Transportation ➔ Insurance & Registration
Mike,
Sorry you had such a nasty accident. Ugh!
Unfortunately, that is the way insurance works. They will only pay the actual value of a car when it is considered a total loss (costs more to fix than it is actually worth).
Although you still owe the balance of your loan, the insurance company may be required to find you a replacement vehicle of equal or like value, depending on your policy. It is worth checking into. http://www.auto-insurance-helper.com/total-loss.html
Also, you can usually keep your car and try to get it fixed yourself, but you will have to take less of a settlement from the insurance company. Before agreeing to this, I would get a couple of estimates for repair on your own, so you can determine if this will really be worth your while.
Sometimes, when I car has been in a serious accident and is then repaired, you continue to have troubles down the road with that vehicle. Not always, but quite often.
Hope something works out for you.
2007-09-08 18:43:21 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's a bad situation. You can purchase the car from the insurance company, but if your credit is not that good or you are low on money, then you may want to take some of the insurance money and buy something cheap to hold you over until you can pay off the auto loan, and then save up a good down payment to help you out with the lower payments on another new car.
good luck.
2007-09-09 00:41:11 · answer #2 · answered by Fordman 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Its hard to say what you should do. We need to know more information than what you provided. How much do you owe ( the difference from not having GAP insurance)?
You much money do you have to spend on another car? If you have $1,500 to spend or even $1,000 you can by a beater car to get you buy for some time. Get a moped if you can. Are you a student? or do you work at a bank? You don't want to drive a moped to the bank wearing a suit. We need more info. We need to know all your options to help you pick the right one.
sorry for your situation, at least you are ok?
2007-09-09 01:10:24 · answer #3 · answered by heythere 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Any thing can be fixed! But is it really worth it ? The cost to repair a totaled car can way exceed the value of it . But it's up to you . If your insurance paid you for the car then you can tell them you want to buy the salvage back .
2007-09-09 00:17:11 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It can be rebuilt, but it probably will never be the same again. Lot of internal panels you won't know how bad off they are until it's apart.Then you have to find somebody willing to do it and back up their work. Lots to consider. You'll also get a salvage title and resale down the road will be close to zip.
2007-09-09 00:28:59 · answer #5 · answered by FORD-MAN 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋