Should I Try To Convince My Insurance To Total Or Repair My Car?

Asked by phnord Dec 18, 2017 at 01:18 PM about the 2008 Toyota Camry LE

Question type: Maintenance & Repair

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?

2 Answers

To be super clear about my question: The insurance adjustor seemed a fairly sympathetic person If I can say something now that would convince him to either go ahead with a covered repair, or to go ahead and total it and give me a check, which seems the more preferable option in my scenario? I.e. would totalling it and cutting me a check likely afford me a vehicle that's in as good / useable condition (and maybe better aesthetic condition) than my current car? If not, it makes more sense for me to try to sway him towards a repair, no?

If you can afford to buy another car you could press for it to be totaled but you won't get much for it.

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