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Well, so far nobody got this one right yet. A car is determined to be totaled if the cost to repair exceeds a certain percentage of the value of the car before the incident. This percentage is determined by the state you are in, as it varies from state to state. I went through this BS on my wife’s car last year. The real problem comes in determining the value of the car before the incident. Insurance companies use some ridiculous valuation system to compute the percentage. Sounds crazy, but I found out from experience.
Good luck with dealing with your insurance company!
Yes, each state establishes a point where an insurer must legally declare a car totaled and apply for a salvage title, but this point can be as high as 100% - giving the carrier total discretion.
Additionally, a carrier will declare a car totaled whenever this is the less expensive route in addressing the loss. That is, a state may have a threshold which, if reached, requires the car to be totaled, but there is nothing which prevents a carrier from totaling a car if it chooses to do so.
Well, so far nobody got this one right yet. A car is determined to be totaled if the cost to repair exceeds a certain percentage of the value of the car before the incident. This percentage is determined by the state you are in, as it varies from state to state. I went through this BS on my wife’s car last year. The real problem comes in determining the value of the car before the incident. Insurance companies use some ridiculous valuation system to compute the percentage. Sounds crazy, but I found out from experience.
Good luck with dealing with your insurance company!
Like a lot of other things that vary by state, people often use their experiences in the State they live in and assume it to be universal. Twenty-two states use a formula to make the total determination, not a percentage. In the other States, there is a percentage but that percentage, as mentioned, can be 100% or down to a low of 70%. As also previously mentioned, the insurance company is not limited under these percentages or formula and can declare any car a total regardless of damage dollars.
What it still comes down to is salvage value plus the cost of repair versus the actual value of the vehicle before the accident. The percentage laws are put into law by legislatures trying to regulate something they don't really understand. They are trying to prevent insurance companies from rebuilding wrecks that should be abandoned which is something they are not prone to do. The real problem lies with the rebuilders buying salvage title vehicles, doing the job poorly, often "washing" the title, and selling the end product to unsuspecting buyers.
As for a cracked frame repair costing so much that it pushes the cost of repairing the car over total thresholds that really depends on where it is cracked. The frame isn't a complete one piece frame. It is broken up into sections that can be replaced. Where that section is and how much work is required to access it determines whether the cost is all that high. Anything directly behind the fascia probably isn't a big deal. Anything that requires removal of the tub will require a hell of a lot more labor hours.
The car that was mentioned in a previous post that had to be totaled due to a cracked frame that was cracked at the junction where the tunnel, floor supports and vertical panel behind the seats join together. There is no way to replace that junction and it's associated parts.
Yes, each state establishes a point where an insurer must legally declare a car totaled and apply for a salvage title, but this point can be as high as 100% - giving the carrier total discretion.
Additionally, a carrier will declare a car totaled whenever this is the less expensive route in addressing the loss. That is, a state may have a threshold which, if reached, requires the car to be totaled, but there is nothing which prevents a carrier from totaling a car if it chooses to do so.
You are correct! I approached my response to a car being totaled from the side of the insurance company trying to screw the car owner by repairing a car that should be considered totaled. Of course, the insurance company can total any car they consider will cost more to repair than is cost effective. I also have been told that any car that the airbags have been deployed, are automatically considered totaled. Not sure if that is true or not.
I just hope that if the frame is cracked, that the owner gets a good payoff so he can replace the car with an as good or better condition car.
Again, good luck with getting this all sorted out to your satisfaction!
I think the issue was that there is no GM approved repair for the alumnium frame of the car so if its cracked, its basically totaled. Same is true for other aluminum framed cars like the Audi R8
I think the issue was that there is no GM approved repair for the alumnium frame of the car so if its cracked, its basically totaled. Same is true for other aluminum framed cars like the Audi R8
This pdf is a great read and even covers the specific example that is quoted so often about the totaled GS for the crack in the frame support member. I used to own a body shop and still rebuild all my Vettes and even my sons C6. It makes me very happy when the insurance company decides to "total" a Vette with minor damage and I can get my hands on it...
Depends on if the part that is cracked comprises structural integrity of the car. The part can be replaced but by tearing the framwe work apart it comprises the structure and GM wont guarantee that the structure is safe it will be totaled. I remember reading about a Z06 with 800+ miles cracked a part of the rear frame. The part could be replaced for about $8k but GM said the structure would be comprised so it was totaled
Just got a update from the insurance. Two small cracks on the back frame. Exhaust was also bent. Repairs came up to 20k plus. Thus the car was totaled. Waiting on a payout amount. It’s a 2014 1lt I’m the second owner with 50k miles. Going to push to get at least 38k on pay out. Sucks cus I got the car at a steal deal at $35k in excellent condition Hard to find a similar one in the Chicago Illinois area
Just got a update from the insurance. Two small cracks on the back frame. Exhaust was also bent. Repairs came up to 20k plus. Thus the car was totaled. Waiting on a payout amount. It’s a 2014 1lt I’m the second owner with 50k miles. Going to push to get at least 38k on pay out. Sucks cus I got the car at a steal deal at $35k in excellent condition Hard to find a similar one in the Chicago Illinois area
Monday it will be one year since I was rear ended by a box truck going fast enough for his air bag to deploy. My C7 was not totaled. The truck drivers insurance company footed the entire bill. I even had my deductible refunded. I had frame rail damage. Because of the GM strike then COVID-19,it took a lot longer than anyone expected to complete the repair.
The damage was fixed, my ‘16 C7 drives and looks even better than it did off the showroom floor.
Just got a update from the insurance. Two small cracks on the back frame. Exhaust was also bent. Repairs came up to 20k plus. Thus the car was totaled. Waiting on a payout amount. It’s a 2014 1lt I’m the second owner with 50k miles. Going to push to get at least 38k on pay out. Sucks cus I got the car at a steal deal at $35k in excellent condition Hard to find a similar one in the Chicago Illinois area
I seriously doubt you will get 38k on a 2014 base car with 50k miles. My ‘16 (1LT) with less mileage was in the 35-36 range a year ago. Sorry to hear it’s totaled. Hope you get an acceptable settlement.
As for a cracked frame repair costing so much that it pushes the cost of repairing the car over total thresholds that really depends on where it is cracked. The frame isn't a complete one piece frame. It is broken up into sections that can be replaced. Where that section is and how much work is required to access it determines whether the cost is all that high. Anything directly behind the fascia probably isn't a big deal. Anything that requires removal of the tub will require a hell of a lot more labor hours.
The car that was mentioned in a previous post that had to be totaled due to a cracked frame that was cracked at the junction where the tunnel, floor supports and vertical panel behind the seats join together. There is no way to replace that junction and it's associated parts.
Bill
As always Bill you are spot on. My upper and lower tubs were among the items that were replaced. They are fiberglass and it doesn’t take a lot of impact to crack them. We drive a car called “The Plastic Fantastic”! Those tubs by the way are glued together. The frames are in sections so certified aluminum shops can put most back together again.
Yours looks worse than mine! Country financial is the insurance company that totaled my car. Real bummer. I had just installed side skirts
I have Allstate. The truck driver had Liberty Mutual. Allstate mandates repairs be made with OEM parts, no aftermarket. So it was essentially a non factory rebuilt with GM parts. I just had some routine maintenance done at the dealer, said everything looked good. Looking to get another three or four years ut of my C7.
Last edited by Silver C7; Sep 19, 2020 at 02:18 PM.
Hard to find a similar one in the Chicago Illinois area
