fixing a totaled car?

[zstalker]

so here's my dilemma: my wife was taking my sister to the airport the other day, and upon returning home, wrecked the car (owned by my parents).  The car is a 1996 Nissan Altima, and it has full insurance coverage.  The damage to the car really isn't that bad, mostly from the bumper mounts and forward.  All damaged parts are bolt-on, so no welding, frame-pulling, suspension or frame parts or real body work will be needed, just part-swapping, and most of it looks pretty simple.
    The insurance adjuster came over today, and after making his estimate, declared the car to be a total loss.  This is, of course, accounting for the fact that all panels and parts would be replaced with brand-new (which I wouldn't do, I'd go junk-yard), and replacing the hood (also wouldn't do), and including over 3 hours of shop labor (also not needed for me to do the work).  I'm a technician at a Subaru Dealership, so I've got the resources and equipment to do all the repairs myself (very convenient, eh?).
    Here's my question:  has anyone here really dealt with insurance companies?  is it worth my time to repair the car and try to recoup the deductibe loss?  the cars is still very drivable, and with the needed parts replaced, will still have a long, happy life ahead of it.  I'm totally capable of fixing this car back to good-as-new, but I'm at a total loss (no pun intended) when dealing with insurance companies.
Is this worth my time, or should I hand it over to the insurance company and wait for the full check to come in the mail?

[THE CHARGER PUNK]

fixing that would cost more then the whole car itself-MATT

[defiance]

exactly - If you don't 'sell' them the car, they probably won't give you enough to even cover the parts; then, even after it's all fixed, the resale value is forever doomed.

[Mean 318]

I would find out what they plan on giving you for it, then find out what they will want to buy it back! Next comes the fun part, argue it for a week! TRUST ME! When my truck got hit I argued them up $800! Then price out the parts, and see what the KBB value would be. If anything, you should at least be able to get a few extra bucks ota them! Good Luck!!!

[ACUDANUT]

 Hey, this is a Charger web site.  I would buy a new Charger !!

[zstalker]

but what exactly is the process for "buying back" a salvaged car from the insurance?  the insurance will give us a check for what they consider fair market value for the car, and we can buy the car back for "x" amount.  as long as the difference between the "purchase" price and "x" is more than the cost of parts (less than $1000) plus the cost of the deductible, we've come out on top, right?  The car's function hasn't been affected, and we're planning to run this car into the ground in another 10 years as a student car, so resale isn't a real concern. 
any actual experience with insurance and salvages out there?
[edit] thanks for the advice Mean 318

[Silver R/T]

This probably would go on the car title history, possibly even rebuilt title. It's not worth it if you're not going to make any money.

[moparguy01]

that vehicle will have a rebuilder title, which pretty much makes the vehicle worth 60% of what it would be worth with a clean title. Ive bought cars back after they were totalled from hail storms. its pretty much a misleading deal because you dont buy it back really, since insurance never has the title for them. rather than them giving you 2500 for the car, you get 1750 cash plus keep the wreck.

that wreck looks like it would be rather spendy. looks like the radiator is tweaked, as well as the condensor. those alone will run around 7-800 bucks.

There is only one reason I would keep the vehicle in your situation. it would be if I can get all the parts to fix it myself for 500 bucks, and plan on keeping it awhile. then i'd put the 500 in it and drive it into the ground.

my 87 dakota has been totalled out 3 times now. 1 wreck where a little old lady plowed into the bedside at 60 MPH IN TOWN (25 MPH zone) the other 2 times it was totalled was hail damage. i fixed the glass and just drive it. my insurance company will not allow full coverage on the vehicle again. they already paid for it a couple times.    unfortunately I like the truck, its a tank, so i keep it around. I'll probably never sell the truck. if i get rid of it i'd probably part it out or send it to the junkyard. so the salvage title doesnt bother me any.

i hope that clears up some of your questions.

[dads_69]

From the photos it looks like the radiator is damaged. You can buy used parts possibly for it to repair or at least a new bumper cover and grille. If you need any other parts for it, going by the estimate that has been written by the estimator, if the price is more than a grand to get it up and running, road worthy, I'd let the insurance company keep it. It will always have a dirty title from here on out. So if you ever did to decide to sell the car, it would be worth no more than $500.00 to $800.00. It's a '96 with however many miles on it, its a disposable car more less. I deal with insurance companys every day. Good luck, keep us updated. If you get a check for anything more than what low book value is, let them keep it and put the money down on something not wrecked needing attention.
Mark

[Charger-Bodie]

first off we fix totaled cars for people quite often , reason being atleast most of the time is that people owe too much on thier cars these days they get estimate the ins totals it you buy it back pay the diff its fixed good as new and you dish out some maoney instead of getting 3500. dollars for a car you owe 5500.00 on you pay 500 extra out of possibe and you still have youre car. depending on what  state you r in , in iowa there is a damage discloser [which is differant than a rebuilder title] if the damage is over 6000.00 and thats inly if the car is less than 10 years old totaled does not mean unrepairanle it means it will cost more than the ins co. will spend to fix it and bu the way with the age of that car the aftermarket availablity of part you could prob. do ok for an example a radiator would prob be like 125. and the condenser would most likely be about the same IM NOT SAYING GO FOR IT BUT I WOULD DO THE MATH BOTH WAYS AND MAKE A DECISION BASED ON THAT ECSPECIALLY IF YOU CAN DO THE WORK YOURESELF 

[zstalker]

well, I'm going to make a concrete list of what parts need to be replaced, and then price them at a couple yards.  this car's generation goes from 1993-97, so I've got a couple to choose from.  it's only got 75,000 miles on it, so that's certainly a bargaining chip to play with the insurance company when haggling for the check.  I've lookied around, and I couple possible expect to get $4500 for the car (in previous condition, of course), so I'm going to compare my parts cost, plus"buy-back" cost fromt eh insurance, and compare that to the check they'd give us back for the car as-is.
I'll keep everyone posted...thanks a ton everybody
~Erik~

[WheresMyCharger]

I have 2 salvage cars, 97 Intrepid Sport and 98 Sebring convertible.Laws vary from state to state, in NY after 8 years old the "salvage" designation is not listed on title so resale won't be a problem. I kept the wrecked pictures and will be up front about it if I do decide to sell. Many parts were available on ebay and to my surprise one of my most costly purchases was the paint, $167 for enough to cover the fender,door and bumper.

If you can fix it your self, do it. The insurance company does NOT want the car and will lose money if they send it to the auction.

[jaak]

I got the same delimma right now, but it was the other drivers fault, and I can't get his damn insurance company to call me back. My wife got rear ended November 30th, we had an estimate done and shop says it a total loss... my wife has a 98 Chevy mini-van the average book value is 3200-3500, and the damage is over 4000, because the quarter got buckled and it needs a new quarter and so on. It still runs/drives fine, I mean we gotta use it and the insurance company won't work with us we leave messages and they won't call back or if we do get them we get.."let me find, this and I'll call you back" and of coarse they dont. I think 28 days is plently long enough to get something done. Hey any of you guys Lawyers, lol.

Jason

[tecmopar]

Jaak, have your insurance co. call them and get it settled for you, thats what you pay for. Zstalker, it does come down to 2 things, how much they charge you to "buy it back" and what kind of title you wind up with. As stated before, laws differ from state to state, if its a salvage title you may not be able to register it or sell it so check with your DMV first. If its legal and you can fix it cheap its always good to have a "station car" thats dependable hanging around, good luck.

[konigcharger]

i've done it several times you just tell them you don't want the car totaled. then they will make you an offer on how much they will pay towards the repair, and you pay the rest. its really pretty simple they will probably only give you a couple hundred. but how much are they gonna give for the whole car? it has been worth it for me to do this in the past.

[TylerCharger69]

I dunno....but  I don't see that car as a total loss.....all those parts may be obtained from your local junkyard,   and there are plenty of those cars for parts to go around.    The insurance company just goes by brand new replacement parts and not junkyard prices.   It's cheaper for them to just total out the car...true, but the amount they give you....will it replace it?....I think not.

[THE COLONEL]

Well, I'll try to make this story as short as possible, because it can get quite long.  I had a 1993 Plymouth Duster, and was invloved in a hit and run in 1997.  I was in the left lane moving over to the right, and the guy behind me was in such a hurry, and tried to get around me ASAP.  He ended up hitting the center barrier trying to get around, and slammed back into the rear of my car, which spun my wife and I around.  We did a 180, and smaked the car pretty good, and ended up riding the back of the car halfway up the barrier facing the oppisite direction.  Anyway, my car was driveable, and I took it home after all the hoopla.  By the way, THEY NEVER CAUGHT THE GUY!!!   After a while I took the car to my insurance company to find out if it was a total loss.  Well, it was.  It was a total loss by $150.  I know they have to add all the damage up.  On my passenger side tail light, there was a smudge from the wall.  It was not crakced in any way, but they marked it up for $200 for a new lens.  So, if not for the tail light, it would not have been totalled. 

Anyway, now to help answer your question.  The damage to my car was $3,990.  I knew, like yourself, that the car still ran good.  All of my damage was cosmetic, and I was not going to buy antother car that I did not know, when this one was still good.  I bought my Duster back for $600 at the time.  I then got a check for $3,390 to fix the damage.  Obviously the $600 was taken out of what they would have gave me, which was the Blue Book value of the car at that time.  I took $1,000 of my money to rebuild the car, and it was as good as new until I had to get rid of it in 2003 only because I wanted a Charger, and three car seats were not going to work in a 2 door car.

The car will have a salvaged title, which will make it worth less then what it really is.  But, if you are planing to run it until it dies, I say fix it, as long as your not going to pay more then what the car is worth.  You will also receive a new title for the car that will be a "Reconstructed Title" after it passes inspection.  Once I got my Duster fixed, the DMV needed to see that it passed inspection, and then a new title will be awarded.  I also needed to submit photos of the car from all sides.  MAKE SURE YOU DO NOT HAVE A PLATE ON THE CAR, AND YOUR WINDOWS ARE UP, ORTHEY WILL NOT ACCEPT THE PICTURES.  If I think of anything else, I will post it, but it is pretty cut and dry.  It's just a lot of BS!