Not sure I totally buy that it’s just a numbers game with repair cost vs. value. When I was shopping for insurance, the agent mentioned something about “hidden damage” and how sometimes they’ll total a car if there’s a chance repairs could get way more expensive once they start taking things apart. My cousin’s old Corolla got rear-ended—looked like just a dented trunk and busted lights, but the insurance called it totaled. He was pretty annoyed since it still ran fine, but apparently the frame was bent and that’s a big deal for safety.
I guess age and mileage do matter, but it feels like the insurance companies are just looking for the cheapest way out. If your car’s not worth much on paper, even small repairs can tip it over that “totaled” line. Kind of frustrating if you’re driving an older car that you actually like and want to keep.
The frame damage is a huge factor, honestly. Even if the car runs, once the structure’s compromised, it’s a safety risk—especially in another accident. I get why it feels like insurance is just trying to save money, but there’s a lot of liability involved if they approve repairs and something goes wrong later. Out of curiosity, has anyone here actually tried to buy back their “totaled” car and fix it themselves? I’ve seen folks do that with older cars they really love, but I wonder how much hassle it actually is.
Out of curiosity, has anyone here actually tried to buy back their “totaled” car and fix it themselves?
Tried it once with an old Civic I was attached to. Honestly, the paperwork was a pain, and getting it re-inspected after repairs took forever. Even then, resale value tanked because of the salvage title. Wouldn’t do it again—especially with frame damage. Just not worth the risk if you care about safety.
I get where you’re coming from. I actually went through the process with a Subaru Forester a few years back. It was technically “totaled” after a rear-end collision, but the damage looked mostly cosmetic to me. I thought I’d save some money and keep a car I knew inside and out. Here’s how it played out for me, step by step:
1. **Insurance Assessment:** The adjuster explained that a car is considered totaled when the repair costs plus the salvage value exceed a certain percentage of the car’s pre-accident value. For my state, it was around 70%. My repairs were just over that line, so they wrote it off.
2. **Buyback Process:** I had to buy the car back from the insurance company at the salvage value. That meant signing some paperwork and getting a salvage title issued. Not hard, but definitely more hoops than I expected.
3. **Repairs:** I did most of the work myself, but even then, parts and paint added up fast. And like you said, frame damage is a whole different beast—I was lucky mine was just body panels and lights.
4. **Inspection:** This was the real headache. Scheduling a state inspection took weeks, and they were super picky about documentation and receipts. Miss one thing, and you’re back to square one.
5. **Title/Resale:** Even after passing inspection, the car got a rebuilt title. Like you mentioned:
That’s no joke. I ended up keeping it until it died because nobody wanted to touch it.“resale value tanked because of the salvage title.”
Looking back, I wouldn’t do it again unless it was a rare or sentimental car—and definitely not if there’s any question about structural safety. The process is way more involved than it seems at first glance, and you’re left with a car that’s always going to have that “salvage” stigma attached. If you’re risk-averse (like me), it’s probably not worth the stress or uncertainty.
Yeah, the “salvage” label really does stick like gum on a designer shoe. I had an old BMW that got tapped in a parking lot, and the repair estimate was laughably high—like, “are you fixing it with gold leaf?” high.
Same here. I tried trading it in and the dealer looked at me like I was offering him a sandwich with a bite taken out. Honestly, unless you’re super attached, it’s usually more hassle than it’s worth.“resale value tanked because of the salvage title.”
