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How do I convince my insurance to total my car?
I want my insurance company to total my car. It will be easier, and I don't like the idea of driving around in the car that I almost died in. How can I convince them to total my car?
Liz Jenson · Updated on
Reviewed by Shannon Martin, Licensed Insurance Agent.
I’m sorry about your accident. It must have been really frightening. You may not be able to convince your insurance to total your car—but you can definitely ask! Just know that the final decision is largely determined by state laws and company policies.
Generally speaking, your insurance company will total your car if the damages will cost more than 50% of the car’s actual cash value (ACV) to repair. And some states have a set cost threshold, requiring insurers to total a car once the damages exceed a certain percentage of the car’s ACV.
If you feel that the repair estimate provided by your insurer is too low, you’re free to get a second opinion. Ask several auto repair shops for advice and quotes, so that your insurer can’t say that the figure you present is unreasonable.
Once you receive an offer from the adjuster, you can make a counteroffer and begin negotiating. You should conduct any negotiations in writing so that you can keep a record. If you feel the need,
get a lawyer
to help you through the process.The state heavily regulates insurance companies, so they will have to stick with their guidelines unless a reasonable exception is warranted.
After an accident, you might see a spike in your monthly bill. To prevent a higher bill, check out the
Jerry
app! Jerry will collect quotes for you so you can compare coverages and prices in a matter of minutes—for free.View full answer
- Gregory R.
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Jerry partners with more than 50 insurance companies, but our content is independently researched, written, and fact-checked by our team of editors and agents. We aren’t paid for reviews or other content.
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