How do they actually decide when a car is “totaled”?

I get what you’re saying about aftermarket stuff, but I’ve actually had a different experience with my last car. I had upgraded the stereo and added some custom lighting, and when it got rear-ended, my insurance did factor in the upgrades—though I’d listed them on my policy when I installed them. Maybe that’s the trick? If you don’t declare it up front, they just treat it like stock equipment.

But here’s what I’m curious about: even if you have receipts and photos, isn’t there a limit to how much they’ll reimburse for non-factory parts? Like, if you drop $2k on a sound system, are they really going to pay out that much? Or do they just depreciate it like everything else? It always feels like a bit of a gamble... especially if you’re into customizing your ride.

I wonder if it’s worth getting a separate rider or extra coverage for mods. Anyone ever tried that route?

I’ve wondered about that too, especially since my minivan’s got a few “upgrades” (if you can call a backup cam and some seat covers upgrades). From what my agent told me, even if you list everything, they’ll usually depreciate aftermarket stuff pretty fast. I had a friend who put a fancy nav system in his SUV, and when it got totaled, he only got a fraction of what he paid. He did mention there’s special coverage for custom parts, but it cost extra and he skipped it. Honestly, unless you’re putting in some serious money, I’m not sure it’s worth the hassle.

Yeah, that lines up with what I’ve heard too. Insurance companies are pretty quick to write off anything aftermarket as “depreciated,” even if you just put it in last year. I had a buddy who put a lift kit and some custom wheels on his truck—spent a small fortune—and when he got rear-ended, the payout barely covered the stock value. He was pretty salty about it, but his agent said unless you specifically add that custom parts coverage (and keep receipts), they’re just gonna go by the book.

I get why they do it, but it does feel a bit unfair if you’ve put real money into upgrades. I guess from their side, it’s tough to track what’s actually on the car and what’s just claimed. I’ve heard some folks try to argue for higher payouts if they can show recent receipts, but it sounds like a long shot unless you’ve got that extra coverage.

As for when they decide a car is “totaled,” it’s usually when the repair costs hit a certain percentage of the car’s value—like 70% or 80%, depending on the state or company. Doesn’t matter if you’ve got a killer sound system or fancy seat covers; they’re looking at the base value. Kinda stings if you’ve kept your ride in great shape or added stuff that makes it way nicer than average.

Honestly, unless you’re dropping serious cash on mods, I’d probably just accept that most of it won’t count for much if something happens. I still like adding little things for road trips—seat organizers, better mats, that sort of thing—but I don’t expect to see any of that back if my van gets totaled. Just part of the deal, I guess.

I get where you’re coming from, but I’ve actually had a different experience with classic cars and insurance. A few points:

- If you’ve got a collector or agreed value policy, the insurer will often factor in upgrades and condition—assuming you’ve documented everything. It’s not just “by the book” for those.
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“Doesn’t matter if you’ve got a killer sound system or fancy seat covers; they’re looking at the base value.”

It’s a hassle, but if you’re really invested in your ride, it might be worth looking into those niche policies. Regular insurance just isn’t built for anything out of the ordinary.

Yeah, agreed value policies are a whole different ballgame. I went the budget route for years and always got nervous about what would happen if my old Mustang got totaled—standard insurance just doesn’t get it. They look at the book value, which is usually way less than what you’ve put into it, even if you’ve kept every receipt and photo.

I finally switched to a classic car policy after hearing too many horror stories. It’s a bit pricier, but at least they’ll actually consider the upgrades and restoration work, as long as you’ve got proof. Still, it’s never a smooth process. Had a buddy who spent weeks sending in photos and paperwork before they paid out anything close to fair.

If you’re on a tight budget like me, it’s tempting to stick with regular insurance, but honestly, it’s not worth the risk if you’ve got a lot invested in your ride. Specialty insurers are picky, but at least they understand these cars aren’t just “old beaters.”