What happens when a car is written off?

What Happens to a Title When the Car Is Written Off?

• Answer:

  Because each insurer approaches policies differently, check with your insurance provider for the specific details of your auto insurance policy regarding total loss. When a car is totaled, the insurance agency will compare the cost of repairs to the value of the car at that time. If the insurance company estimates the cost of repairs to be greater than the value of the car, then the car will most likely be written off, regardless of the amount of the remaining balance on the car. Description According to GEICO Auto Insurance, if the client's policy includes Total Loss Coverage and the policy holder outright owns the vehicle, the insurance company will acquire the title from the owner and pay to the owner the actual cash value of the car after the deductable and applicable state fees and taxes have been recovered. Once the insurance company assumes the title, the company advertises and accepts bids from salvage buyers or junkyards to buy the car for spare parts and scrap. Financed Vehicles If the policyholder has not completed the financing for their vehicle and the lender is still owed money for the car, the insurance company pays the finance company. If the actual cash value is greater than the remaining amount of financing on the car, then the car's owner is paid the difference. Regardless of financing issues, the insurance company absorbs the title of the car and sells the car to the highest bidder. If the actual cash value awarded the lender does not cover the remaining balance of the finance, the policyholder is responsible for paying the remainder of the loan balance. State Regulations Each state determines whether or not the owner of a totaled vehicle can keep it. Because there is no established standard for total loss insurance coverage in the United States, the future of your car remains the same. If your car is totaled, your insurance company assumes control of your title unless you want to keep your vehicle for whatever reason.