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Is there a way to buy back a car after the insurance company says it's totaled?
Is there a way for me to buy back my car? It was totaled in a car accident a week ago, and I am just not ready to let it go yet. I know it is considered a hunk of junk, but it was my first car and I want to keep it.
Shannon Martin · Updated on
Reviewed by Shannon Martin, Licensed Insurance Agent.
“It can be hard to give up that first car, and hopefully, you won’t have to! Depending on your state and the guidelines from your
car insurance
company, you may be able to buy your car back.The first step would be to check with your claims adjuster. You will need to know if they allow buybacks and how much the salvage value is.
The salvage price of the car is what the insurance company expects to get at auction. If you have
collision coverage
, the insurance company would take the actual cash value
, minus the deductible and salvage amount, and issue a check for the difference.For example, let’s say the actual cash value was $11,000 and you have a $1,000 deductible. Your insurer would issue a check to you for $10,000 if you do not want to keep the car. If you want your vehicle back, they will deduct the salvage amount from the claim payout. If the salvage price of the car is $6,000, you will get a check for $4,000 and keep your vehicle.
Once you have your car back, you may have some hoops to jump through if you want to get on the road again. Auction cars are issued salvaged titles. You would have to have your vehicle repaired and inspected for it to qualify for a rebuilt title. Every state has its own laws for this, so check with your local DMV for guidance.
Some insurance companies will not provide insurance for any cars that were once salvaged.
Don’t worry though, downloading the free
Jerry
app can help! Jerry shops low rates from over 50 insurance providers and delivers the best options right to your phone. The best part, they are partnered with some companies that will offer coverage for a rebuilt title.”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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