Car totalled - help with options please

[FIRE 20/20]

Recently, my partner was stopped in traffic and the car she was driving (my car) was hit from behind.  Fortunately it was a glancing blow to the passenger's read side so she sustained no injuries, and the damage to the car appears minor.  However, the collision repair shop says it will cost $8k to repair, which is about 90% of the car's value.  They said the insurance company will probably want to total it but we'll hear from them in a few days.  The car seems totally fine to drive - no vibration, no pull to one side or the other, and no other apparent issues.  I really like the car, and similar cars (2014 Mazda3 hatchback, manual) are listed at $14k and up.  I personally maintained the car to a very high standard, and am confident that it's in exceptional mechanical condition. 

Does anyone out there have any advice on how to proceed?  It seems likely that the insurance company is going to try to offer us around $9k and there doesn't appear to be any way to purchase an equivalent vehicle for that price.  Can I reject their assessment of a total loss, get the check, and have the car repaired myself?  Since it seems that the car drives well I hope there's no frame damage, and if that's the case then a repair would be my preference.  If there is frame damage then I would not try to have it repaired. 

Basically, if anyone has any real knowledge of the best way to proceed please let me know. 

One last thing - so far my insurance company has been mostly out of the picture because it was so clear the other driver was at fault and she was insured.  However, I have been with my current company for close to 20 years with zero claims.  I would hope that my agent would be willing to help try to get additional money for the car if that's possible. 

Thanks!

[Askel]

Drives fine, nothing falling off, shelters you from the elements, everything functional? 

Maybe just leave it as is and continue driving it?  Even if you change your mind, you can always fix it later.   

Just had to make a similar call. Member of the local deer population incorrectly assumed it had the right of way and banged up my front fender, door, and knocked the mirror off.  I stopped by a local body shop to get a quote, and after talking with the guy, decided a full repair wouldn't be worth it. He yanked out the fender a bit so the door could open and close properly and I got a new mirror from rock auto for $35.   

It's worth checking out a smaller body shop and mentioning you will be paying out of pocket and not having insurance cover it. You can often get radically different quotes this way and have the opportunity to pick and choose which things you have fixed.   You can also get an assessment from them over any safety concerns you might have. 

Not quite sure how to best navigate the insurance aspect as I live in a no-fault state and things work a little different here.   

[therethere]

I believe the way it works is insurance totals the car. They pay you a check then they own the car. You can offer to buy back the car at some nominal percentage of what they paid you. 10-20%. You'd then have to follow any of your state specific rules to ensure the car is roadworthy and receive a salvage title.

[charis]

If you withdraw the insurance claim, you would have to pay for all the repairs (which doesn't sound like an option that you are considering, but I'm curious if that would avoid a salvage title).

If you take the check and keep the car, the payout will be a bit less than if your insurance company kept the car, you'll have a salvage title, and you may have to pay to repair than the original estimate, depending on what they find after starting the work.

[index]

You do not have to accept the insurance companies assessed value of the vehicle. Ask for their 'comps' and adjustments and make a table of your own comps and adjust similarly to the way they are do it. I was able to get the check increased by $3.8k when my car was totaled. Also, do not hesitate to escalate or threaten to escalate your claim to your state's department (or bureau) of insurance. You also have the right to buy the vehicle back at the salvage value of the car and fix it at your leisure.

[FIRE 20/20]

Thanks for all the advice and quick responses!

You do not have to accept the insurance companies assessed value of the vehicle. Ask for their 'comps' and adjustments and make a table of your own comps and adjust similarly to the way they are do it. I was able to get the check increased by $3.8k when my car was totaled. Also, do not hesitate to escalate or threaten to escalate your claim to your state's department (or bureau) of insurance. You also have the right to buy the vehicle back at the salvage value of the car and fix it at your leisure.

How did you find comparable completed sales?  I see list prices, but so far my google-fu is failing to find completed sales listings (I assume that's what you mean by "comps"). 

[Jaybo]

I believe the way it works is insurance totals the car. They pay you a check then they own the car. You can offer to buy back the car at some nominal percentage of what they paid you. 10-20%. You'd then have to follow any of your state specific rules to ensure the car is roadworthy and receive a salvage title.

I was in this same situation a few years ago. I had an older 1996 Mazda 626 and was hit in the rear passenger door, but the car sustained no frame damage. Because of its age and mileage, the insurance company totaled it out and I was given a check for $2000 and I had the option to buy the car back for $800 if I wanted. I chose not to as we needed something different anyway.

[JupiterGreen]

Thanks for all the advice and quick responses!

You do not have to accept the insurance companies assessed value of the vehicle. Ask for their 'comps' and adjustments and make a table of your own comps and adjust similarly to the way they are do it. I was able to get the check increased by $3.8k when my car was totaled. Also, do not hesitate to escalate or threaten to escalate your claim to your state's department (or bureau) of insurance. You also have the right to buy the vehicle back at the salvage value of the car and fix it at your leisure.

How did you find comparable completed sales?  I see list prices, but so far my google-fu is failing to find completed sales listings (I assume that's what you mean by "comps").

This happened to me. I made a spreadsheet. Looked at local/regional dealerships to get comps and sent those to the insurance company. The person at fault's insurance company initial amount for my car was a super lowball offer. I could not buy the same car for the amount they first threw at me. I put this all in writing that the amount would not buy me a comparable car and sent the comps asking for that amount. I went back and forth with them before they agreed to pay the price I would actually need to buy the same exact car (same age, make, model). Don't take their first offer.

The insurance company never took my old car. Not sure if this is a state by state thing. Or maybe it is because my car was so old it wasn't worth the gas to pick it up. Still, I drove it until I felt it was unsafe. I have no problem driving junkers.