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How do insurance companies decide to total a car?
My son totaled the family SUV when he was driving in the rain last week. He is okay, thankfully. We are unaware of the appraisal process or held value of totaled cars and would like to know any more information you can share!
Carlos Kirby · Updated on
Reviewed by Shannon Martin, Licensed Insurance Agent.
I’m so glad to hear that your son is okay. In a nutshell, insurance companies decide to
total a car
when the car either can’t be safely repaired or the cost of the repairs is more than the car is actually worth.If you have collision coverage and the insurance company declares your SUV a total loss, your provider will pay you the actual cash value (ACV) of your car (minus the deductible), rather than covering the repair bills. The ACV is calculated based on your car’s:
- Make
- Model
- Year
- Mileage
- Condition (before the accident)
If you are looking for ways to save after getting higher monthly payments due to an auto accident,
Jerry
can provide you with competitive quotes in under a minute. Swapping is just as effortless. Jerry takes care of all the paperwork and phone calls and even helps you cancel your old policy—oh, and it’s free!View full answer
- Gregory R.
WHY YOU CAN TRUST JERRY
Jerry partners with more than 50 insurance companies, but our content is independently researched, written, and fact-checked by our team of editors and agents. We aren’t paid for reviews or other content.
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