I was hit on NYE in my Jeep - '96 Cherokee Country Edition - by some dumbass who ran a red light. I finally got a resolution today from the insurance (he has Liberty Mutual) who accepted full liability and they have deemed my Jeep a total loss (KBB excellent is $4500, haven't gotten the paperwork from their adjuster yet to see the total damage). I've never been in this situation before, so I don't quite understand what goes into keeping my car, having a salvaged title, and then fixing it and getting it reinspected.

I'm absolutely keeping my car; it was a gift from my grandmother who is now dieing of cancer...sentimental value that's worth more to me than what any insurance company could give me. It's purely cosmetic damage, I've been driving it since the accident, but now I'm worried about what goes into inspecting it and getting the title back. Has anyone had any experience going through keeping a totaled vehicle and then getting the salvaged title?

Not that this entire mess hasn't been a HUGE pain in my neck (...and my shoulder and arm, but that's another aspect of it), but they're only offering me $440 (2 weeks) for a rental while my Jeep's getting fixed - b/c they know I'm going to keep it. Do I have grounds for arguing further with them to get a decent loaner? I mean, holy shit - I just checked enterprise and since I'm under 25, a Chevy Aveo (ha - a real equivilant to my 4x4 Jeep) will cost $866.68 after all the fees.

Price Quote
2 Weeks @ Weekly $180.49 $360.98
1.00/DAY STATE TOURISM FEE $14.00
UNDER AGE 21-24 DRIVER FEE $420.00
Subtotal $794.98
3% STATE RENTAL SURCHARGE $23.43
SALES TAX $48.27

*Total Estimated Charges $866.68

Sorry so long...help, anyone? I'm a fighter, but good God...enough! :surrender

 

Usually, if the insurance company is going to total the vehicle, they will request the salvage.

Edit - Nevermind, that's for a financed vehicle.

 

Who is your Insurance company ?

 

Mine is State Farm...his is Liberty Mutual.

Update is that if I have them take it, they'll pay me $5217.
If I keep it, fix it, have it reinspected to get the salvage title back, they'll pay me $5017. The quote I got to fix it is $3100. Like I said, PITA to go through with getting it reinspected.

 

Bascially, this is what will happen.

They pay you $4500.
You go to the junk yard to buy back your car for $200 (for example).
Your insurrance will then give you $4300 and give you back your car.
You need to fork up the cash to fix your car yourself.
And most likely, the insurrance may refuse to insure your car.

 

Okay, I just had my beater stolen and totalled. I inquired about buying back, but they said under Michigan law, a totalled vehicle from a theft case cannot be sold back for some reason.

However, I was able to learn the process of how it works. And here's what they told me. By the way, I'm with AAA. Rules vary among insurance companies and states, so keep that in mind.

1. They said it will be totalled.
2. They offered me a price, negotiated and settled.

Now that's where it ended for me, but the adjuster told me this is how it would've worked, if I could buy it back.

3. AAA typically offers the car back for roughly 15-20% of the settlement amount.
4. So you keep 80-85% of the settlement, from which you have to shell out the repair costs to fix the car.
5. AAA inspects the vehicle to make sure it is repaired properly and complies with the state laws.
6. Your car is re-insured with a salvage title.



I don't know if that'll help or not but that's what I was told.

 

It does help. You think that I won't be able to get insurance even though it's just cosmetic damage?

 

U should be able to get insurance, however not full coverage. Only liability IF and ONLY IF DMV declares your car a SAFE CAR TO DRIVE.

U should consider cost, I went through a similar situation and it was not worth it.

 

Well, that's up to your insurance company. But by the sound of it, AAA would have insured my car without a fuss, as long as the damages were properly repaired and safe to drive.

If you were serious about going through with this, I would first contact the DMV and the insurance company to make sure EXACTLY what needs to be done in order to get the vehicle insured and a salvage title issued. That's your best bet. We can't help with you those details.

Good luck.

 

This is what happens here all the time. The thief steal all the parts and then they leave the rest of your car there. When the insurance company sends what is left from the car to the junk yard, the thief go to the junk yard and buy the car back. And then they just put everything back to the car and ship the car to other country. Make it totally legit!!

 

Holy shit, that never even occurred to me. That's shitty, but kind of brilliant at the same time.

But in my case, just about all the damages done to the car involved shattering, tearing shit out, or straight-up breaking something. Nothing could've been taken out then simply put back in. So I mean, they could've let me keep it.

 

In your case, just spend the cash to buy another Jeep that has the same color and be done with it. I don't think anyone can tell the different. What is done has been done. God insists you to get rid of the Jeep. Just don't fight with him and just let it go.

 

Procedure varies from state to state.

This is how it goes in PA.

my CL-S was stolen and shot up.

Insurance company totalled it. Gave me $18k for it (2001 w/ 50k miles...bought new in mar/apr 2000).

The buyback from the salvage yard (or pick-and-pull or whatever) was $500 (or $800, don't remember).

Got the salvage title (not registerable...not insurable). Fixed it for around $4.5k. Got the R-title (rebuilt title...registerable...insurable). In PA you have to send in pics of the rebuilt car and receipts for repairs and parts.

Sold it for $10k.

Insurance payout: $18000
buyback price: -$800
repair price: -$4500
S & R title fees: -$200
As sold price: $10000

Realized price: $22,500 for a 5 year old CL-S w/ 50k miles.

Cha-ching

 

Should know by the beginning of next week what the insurance company's offer is going to be. My lawyer's office called the town clerk and found that my vehicle is worth $5,525 according to them. I've downloaded the CT DMV paperwork to go through getting it reinspected and everything, and I think all I'm going to have to do is take off the fogs (they're angled straight down and straight up from the grille being pushed forward) and replace the drivers side turn signals and the rear casing for the turn signal. It should pass from that....hopefully on the first try.

Thanks for all of your help, I'll post results when they happen ! The money that I have left over from fixing it will be sitting in my ING account gathering 4.75% ripening for a down payment.

 

wow...smart

 

The thing that got me was the buyback price...the engine, 50k miles with all services performed with synthetic, was in PERFECT condition! If I bought the car back for $800 (or $500?) and just sold the engine, I would've still made a profit!

But after going to all the pick-and-pulls for all the windows (which were cheap), the most expensive part was a used navi screen (the pick&pull place had it at another location from a TL - $250) and the body work and paint, and labor to install all the windows.

And if worse came to worse and i couldn't sell it for a decent price, I would've kept it as a beater/winter car and still have made a killing.