When is it considered a write-off?

[justincalgary]

I was in an accident on Monday while I was sitting at a red light. What I am wondering is when is a vehicle considered written-off? I am attaching the pictures of the damage. I have heard that the damage has to be 50% or more of the vehicles worth. I figure my truck is worth $7500 - $8000. Did I hear right, or does it vary from insurance company to insurance company? The guy that hit me is insured from Saskatchewan...would that make a difference? Thanks in advance for any help. Again, I am just basing this on the damage everyone can see, not sure if there is anything else wrong underneath.

[justincalgary]

this is the right fender

[justincalgary]

this is the right facing view

[justincalgary]

and finally the left facing view :drama:

[ninspeed]

it usually 75% of ACV. unless you other endorsments on your policy (43r/white card)

[justincalgary]

75%!!! that's crazy. feel bad for people with real damage.

[ninspeed]

Originally posted by justincalgary
75%!!! that's crazy. feel bad for people with real damage.
imagine having replacement value on your insurance.. i just fixed a 05 canyon worth 38000$, final bill was 31000....

[justincalgary]

that is nuts. i got hit a couple of years ago by a guy driving a brand new civic. he had 15,000 damage on an 18,000 car and they made him fix it.

[infected]

I think it depends, if the damage goes beyond the body and it will take a long time to fix then I don't think they will make you keep it. The car doesn't look that bad though, maybe ask insurance.

[JordanEG6]

usually if the repair costs for the damage is worth more than the vehicle, they'll write it off...at least thats what i hear. i could be wrong :dunno:

[rc2002]

Yeah I was always under the impression that if damage is more than the vehicle's current worth that it's a write off. Some cases with frame damage or cases right on the borderline are done on a case by case basis.

Doesn't seem like the damage in the pictures would be enough to write off your truck though...

[Zero102]

With my insurance company, it's 75% of the appraised value. It does vary from company to company though. If I owned an $18,000 car that suffered $15,000 in damage, I would tell the insurance company that if they fix it, then they've just bought it, and I'll take my $18,000, because I'll never drive it again...
Hell, if I drove anything that suffered $15,000 in damage I would never drive it again.

[schurchill39]

Also from what i understand if there is frame damage or any susficient damage to an import structural part of the car they will write it off.

[ninspeed]

Originally posted by Zero102
With my insurance company, it's 75% of the appraised value. It does vary from company to company though. If I owned an $18,000 car that suffered $15,000 in damage, I would tell the insurance company that if they fix it, then they've just bought it, and I'll take my $18,000, because I'll never drive it again...
Hell, if I drove anything that suffered $15,000 in damage I would never drive it again.
too bad you cant do that... read your policy..

as for the frame damage, unless the $ is over the write off point, 99% of the time it gets fixed. I have only seen one car get writen off as a total loss when it could have been fixed.. the estimate was for 39000 on a 76000$ car.. the work required if not done 100% right would have lead to some serious structure weakness. (i was on a 04 vette, got tboned and swayed the rear of the frame over alot)

[Nissanaddict]

About the Sask. issue, sask is public I believe. My parents got into an accident in Manitoba in August, got rear ended by a manitoban, so it probably works more or less the same way. I'd call Sask Public insurance first, although Manitobas autopac told us just to talk to our insurance here. We talked to them, gave them the info, they confirmed that the other guy reported the crash to insurance (no cops, under $1000, just a bumper cover replacement+paint) then just gave us a claim number, and asked what body shop we go to. We said southgate, he said they're authorized, we go to southgate, give them claim number, and van is fixed. No deductible. So yeah, just call Saskatchewans insurance, and if they tell you to talk to yours, do just that, and the rest is easy.

[Supa Dexta]

Yep 75% and frame damage doesn't matter to much at all, they will straighten it out and send you on your way... Sucks when your near that limit and they fix it.. ha.. make sure you pick the best shop you know of.... Mine went to national and the labour was equal to the damage, but it was fixed right and I have no problems with it since...


:)

[justincalgary]

thanks for all the help guys. turns out is just under $4000 damage and no structure damage. gonna fix it. i was warned by a co-worker that they may be using non genuine mopar parts. is that true, and if so can i ask for genuine?

[90Tegra]

if ur doing it at a local shop i'd think so cuz parts are almost half or maybe less than the price of dealers.

['93 SR-V]

I think they have to use oem parts if they are available (don't quote me on this though). Keep in mind they may use used parts, but used oem none the less... they have to fix it to the condition it was in prior to the crash.