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If a repair shop considers my car a total loss, what does that mean?
"The other driver's insurance company accepted liability for the accident and I was told to go to a car shop to get an estimate for repairs. They told me it was a "total loss." What does this mean for the insurance payment?"
Sophie Newman · Updated on
Reviewed by Shannon Martin, Licensed Insurance Agent.
“If a vehicle is classified as a total loss, this means that the value of repairing it is less than the vehicle is worth.
In a total loss settlement, the other driver’s
car insurance company
will pay you cash value for the vehicle (provided you own it outright), which they determine using databases like Kelley Blue Book. If you have a lien on the vehicle, the company will pay the lienholder directly, and you’ll be responsible if there’s a difference between what they pay and what you owe, unless you have
gap insurance
.”View full answer
- Gregory R.
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