Should I Try To Convince My Insurance To Total Or Repair My Car?
I have a 2008 Toyota Camry that's in... less than ideal condition. I live in
Long Island, and spend most of my time in Brooklyn, New York. My
insurance is Geico, with a $200 deductible
It has 105,000 miles on it or so. I've owned it since I bought it in 2007
(although at one point the title was in a friend's name for a few years near
the beginning of its life, while I only had a permit)
The interior is pretty dirty, and has a few small issues that are easily fix-up-
able
The right side is scratched up, has a dent that makes the front right door
have issues, and needs a new mirror
Both bumpers have dings, dents. A rear light has missing plexiglass on it.
I was recently in a small accident that caused the front left bumper to be
dented, and has damaged the suspension / shocks / steering in some
capacity (it thinks it's driving straight when the steering wheel is crooked,
turning feels strange, some noises from the shocks)
My deductible is $200
The insurance assessor thought it might end up being totaled because of
the suspension issues, but that given its (apparently low?) milage, it might
end up being saved
Do I want it to be totaled? With a car in this condition, would I be able to get
a reasonable amount back from it - enough to buy a used car in good
enough condition to replace the car I've been driving?
Or should I try to convince the insurance adjustor not to total it?