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When does USAA deem a car totaled?

How does USAA determine that a vehicle is totaled? I was in an accident and my vehicle has significant damage. The mechanic told me it's not worth repairing; however, I'm unsure what my car insurance company would say.

avatar
Eric Schad · Updated on
Reviewed by Shannon Martin, Licensed Insurance Agent.
“There are two ways that
USAA
will determine whether your car is totaled:
  • If the car cannot be safely repaired or rendered safe to drive after repairs, it’s totaled.
  • If the vehicle’s repairs cost more than the actual cash value (ACV) of the car, it’s totaled.
Once you get the estimate from the mechanic, you can turn that over to your
car insurance
. You should hear back from them as to whether they deem your car totaled or if they’ll pay for the repairs.”
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