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How much damage does there have to be for insurance to total a car?
I was recently in a really bad car wreck and I’m pretty sure my car is totaled, but I’m not sure. How much damage does a car have to have for my insurance company to consider it totaled? I have Nationwide insurance, if that helps at all.
Chloe Jenkins · Updated on
Reviewed by Shannon Martin, Licensed Insurance Agent.
I’m so sorry to hear about your accident! I really hope you’re doing well. In order to determine whether or not your car is a total loss, your insurance company calculates whether or not the cost of your car’s repairs surpasses the value of your car.
To get a clear sense of whether or not your car is totaled,contact your agent at
Nationwide
; they should be able to help you with your claims process. If you’re able to take photos of the damage, you’ll want to send the photos to your agent, since this will help them fact-check your claim more easily. When you speak with your agent, ask for a list of auto body shops that are approved to determine the extent of the damage; they will work with the claims adjuster in providing information.Of course, you can contact an auto repair shop near you and get
car repair quotes
from them, but going with the agent-approved shop will speed up the claims process. If you need a rental car during this process, you can also check with your insurance agent to see if rental cars are a part of your coverage.Once the adjuster assesses the vehicle and resolves the claim, you’ll know whether or not your vehicle is totaled and will receive any
reimbursement for the total loss
.Keep in mind that after an accident, your insurance premiums may increase. If you find yourself needing to switch to another provider, the
Jerry
app can help. We’ll get you customized quotes from top insurers in seconds, so that all you need to do is pick the best deal on the coverage you need. And once you pick one, we’ll even help you switch.Hope everything turns out okay!
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- Gregory R.
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