Can you ask an insurance company to total your car? (Details for 2025)

Can you tell insurance to total your car? Yes, as the policyholder, you can ask insurance to total your car, i.e., to consider your car a total loss. If the cost to repair the damages exceeds a certain threshold (typically a percentage of the car’s actual cash value), the insurance company may choose to declare your car a total loss.

Wondering what evidence to use when asking “Can I tell my insurance to total my car?” There are several reasons why you can tell insurance to total your car:

• Extensive Damage: If your car has sustained significant damage, repairing it may not be feasible or cost-effective.
• Safety Concerns: If the structural integrity or safety features of the car have been compromised, you may prefer to have it declared a total loss.
• Financial Considerations: If the cost of repairs exceeds the car’s value, it may be more beneficial for you to receive the actual cash value of the car.

How easy is it to total a car? It will depend on the damages and safety concerns.

So, what is the meaning of total loss of a car? When a car is declared a total loss, it means that the cost to repair the damages exceeds a certain percentage (often 70-75%) of the car’s actual cash value.

In such cases, the insurance company may determine that it is more cost-effective to pay the insured the actual cash value of the car rather than proceed with repairs (Learn More: How Insurance Companies Determine if a Car is Totaled).

While you can ask your insurance company to total your car, it is ultimately their decision based on their assessment of the damages and the car’s value. If the damages are repairable and within a reasonable cost, the insurance company may choose to proceed with the repairs instead of declaring it a total loss.

Wondering how to get insurance to total your car? To request your insurance company to consider your car a total loss, you should follow these steps if insurance won’t total your car:

1. Report the claim: Contact your insurance company to report the accident and the damages to your car.
2. Provide documentation: Provide any documentation and evidence of the damages, including repair estimates, photographs, and relevant information.
3. Express your request: Clearly communicate your desire for the insurance company to consider declaring your car a total loss based on the extent of damages and other factors you deem important.
4. Insurance company evaluation: The insurance company will assess the damages and determine if the car meets the criteria for a total loss based on their guidelines and the applicable laws.

Following these steps will help you through the process of how to convince insurance to total cars.

If your insurance company determines that your car is a total loss, they will pay you the actual cash value of the car, minus any applicable deductibles or outstanding loan balances. You will need to transfer ownership of the car to the insurance company, and they may sell the salvage to a salvage yard or a third party (Read More: What do auto insurance companies do with totaled cars?).

Yes, you can negotiate the total loss settlement offered by the insurance company if you believe the valuation is inaccurate or insufficient. Gather evidence such as recent comparable car listings, maintenance records, and any modifications or upgrades that may increase the car’s value. Present this information to your insurance company to support your negotiation.

If you disagree with the insurance company’s decision not to declare your car a total loss, you can tell insurance not to total your car. However, you will need to provide additional evidence or get a second opinion from an independent appraiser. Consult with your insurance company to understand their internal appeals process and the steps to take to contest their decision.

At what point a car is totaled varies depending on the insurance company policy and state regulations. Typically, a car is declared a total loss when the cost of repairs approaches or exceeds a certain percentage of the car’s actual cash value (Learn More: Replacement Cost vs. Actual Cash Value).

Insurance can total your car if they determine that the cost of repairing your car exceeds its current market value, and thus declare it a total loss.

Yes, you can fight your insurance company not to total your car if you believe that the assessment of your vehicle’s value or the repair costs is inaccurate.

You do pay your auto insurance deductibles if your car is totaled and you are filing a claim under your own insurance policy for a comprehensive or collision loss.

A car is generally not declared a total loss due to mechanical failure. A car can become totaled due to damage from accidents, theft, or environmental factors like flooding or fire that make the cost of repairs exceed the vehicle’s actual cash value. In these cases, insurance will guide you through how to safely total a car.

Typically, you pay your deductible after your car is repaired but before you pick it up from the repair shop.

Want answers to questions like “insurance wants to total my car but I want to keep it?” and “my car is totaled but I want to keep it?” Depending on your state, you may be able to keep your car even if your insurance company declares it a total loss.

If you decide to keep a totaled vehicle, the title of the car will be changed from a clean title to a salvage title, which can significantly affect the resale value and may also restrict the types of insurance coverage you can get (Read More: Salvage Titles Explained). You can buy back your totaled car by accepting the cash settlement of your insurer.

You can fix your own car with insurance money, but you cannot force an insurance company to repair your car if they have determined that it is a total loss. Under the same circumstances, you cannot force insurance to total your car.

Yes, you can sue an insurance company if they fail to fulfill their obligations under your insurance policy, such as not paying for repairs covered under the policy. However, suing should generally be considered a last resort.

An act of vandalism can total a car if the vehicle damage is significant (e.g., broken windows, slashed tires, or severe destruction to its interior or mechanical parts). In this case, the cost of repairs can sometimes exceed the car’s actual cash value (ACV).

So, an insurance company may determine that it’s best to declare the car a total loss rather than pay for extensive repairs from vandalism (Learn More: Does auto insurance cover vandalism?).

The decision to total a car is typically based on the cost of repairs relative to the car’s actual cash value (ACV). However, you can dispute the Actual Cash Value determined by your insurance company. But, how to dispute the value of a totaled car? You can present evidence such as local listings for similar vehicles, expert appraisals, or other data that demonstrate a higher market value.

In most cases, you need to notify your local Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) or equivalent state agency if your car is declared a total loss

If your car is totaled and you still owe money, Guaranteed Auto Protection (gap) insurance can cover the difference between what you owe on your car and the ACV paid out by your insurance company. If you don’t have gap insurance and the payout doesn’t cover the loan, you will be responsible for the difference.

If the damage to the car is extensive, especially to critical components like the frame or engine, repairs might not restore the car to a safe, reliable condition. If the repair costs approach or exceed the value of the car, totaling the car might make more financial sense.

You may be asking yourself: “Is my car totaled if airbags deployed?” Airbags do not total a car as this depends on several factors, including the cost of repairs in relation to the car’s overall value, the age of the car, and the specific circumstances of the accident.

Typically, you cannot insure a car with a salvage title. However, you can get insurance on a totaled car, if you first repair it and then pass a state-mandated inspection to ensure it is safe to drive (Read More: Best Auto Insurance Companies That Insure Cars With Salvage and Rebuilt Titles). Shop for auto insurance for your vehicle today with our free quote tool.

Yes, an insurance company can declare your car a total loss without your explicit permission. This decision is typically based on financial calculations rather than owner consent.