So my car is totaled...

"JBurd67" (jlburi) 10/16/2014 at 15:25 • Filed to: None

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How can I determine the salvage value of my car?

I'm looking to make a good, educated decision on what to do with my car. The auto body guy is willing to buy it from me for the right price. But it's gonna be close on how much it ends up being.

The estimated repair for the above damage is about $4200. There's some potential axle damage, it's out of alignment, and the wheel is shot (stuff you can't see). Sub-frame/frame damage is possible, but I couldn't find any as I looked it over. There's $75 worth of frame repair on the estimate.

So does anyone know how I can get an accurate salvage value? Better yet, could anyone do it themselves?

Essentially, I have a safe route and a semi-but-not-so-risky route.

<- Retail Book value

For your time:

EDIT: Included damage and numbers. Again, included retail book value.

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > JBurd67 10/16/2014 at 15:28

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What was mechanically damaged that was enough to total the car?

W

JBurd67 > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To 10/16/2014 at 15:31

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The wheel is shot, it's out of alignment, the door is bad, and I believe there's some suspension damage in there. I couldn't see any frame damage, but there's a possibility (albeit small) of that as well.

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > JBurd67 10/16/2014 at 15:31

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I was at the scrap yard, and this guy comes up to me with a totaled GM. I looks at it, and it's kinda bad. He says he's sellin' it. I ask him about how much he wants, and he says about tree fiddy. It was about that time I noticed he didn't even fit in the car, cause he about 30 feet tall and green. So I said "get outta here!" I ain't buyin' no salvage car from no Loch Ness Monster.

Even it it's worth more than tree fiddy.

MonkeePuzzle > RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht 10/16/2014 at 15:35

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I believe you

HammerheadFistpunch > JBurd67 10/16/2014 at 15:45

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When my first car was totaled I reached out to a salvage company out in Florida who paid me $1500, about half of my book value. I was pretty happy about it.

Nibbles > JBurd67 10/16/2014 at 15:46

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While you could get away with replacing the subframe and connectors, there's likely unibody damage just behind the fenderwell. What's the year, mileage, engine, options?

Pixel > JBurd67 10/16/2014 at 15:46

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Year/make/model? I can run it through the system at work.

JBurd67 > Pixel 10/16/2014 at 15:55

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2001 Chevy Monte Carlo SS, 115k miles. Not supercharged, in great condition with fairly new tires.

JBurd67 > Nibbles 10/16/2014 at 15:58

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2001 Monte Carlo SS, 115k miles, 3.8L NA V6. Loaded, leather, sunroof, the works.

Retail book:

Steve in Manhattan > JBurd67 10/16/2014 at 15:59

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Maybe someone wants it as a parts car? Sold an old Volvo once to make another Volvo live.

Pixel > JBurd67 10/16/2014 at 15:59

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Used my zip and NADA value on the car, so it might change slightly depending on where you are and the final value of the car but it should be close.

JBurd67 > Pixel 10/16/2014 at 16:01

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Retail KBB is $4600-$5k, depending on condition, so you're not far off.

Is the Total Loss what I should be able to buy it back for then? (roughly, obviously)

JBurd67 > MonkeePuzzle 10/16/2014 at 16:01

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Lol

JBurd67 > RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht 10/16/2014 at 16:02

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I'm honestly not even sure what to say to this...

Kinja'd...? I guess?

Pixel > JBurd67 10/16/2014 at 16:04

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Yes. It is often referred to as "Owner Retained" and they should be able to give you a value as well based on the final numbers. Be aware the car will have a salvage title, which in most states makes it not legal to drive. So you'll need to find out what the process is in your state to repair it and get it re-titled and legal to register again. I know in MA you have to have all the repairs on the estimate that totaled it performed at a licensed shop, so you likely wouldn't come out ahead, especially if they found hidden damage.

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > JBurd67 10/16/2014 at 16:06

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Your post was a low hanging curveball for swatting with a meme . The short version would have been just to say your car was worth "about tree fiddy".

JBurd67 > Pixel 10/16/2014 at 16:09

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Could you see that number going over $800-1000?

I don't plan on keeping the vehicle. Too many headaches. I'm in MN, and you have to have the salvaged title re-certified by the state (or a certified shop), but it's always marked salvaged.

The auto body shop owner that I took it to would like to buy it, do the work himself for someone else. So it'd go right from the insurance company's hands to mine, to his. I shouldn't have to deal with much at all

JBurd67 > RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht 10/16/2014 at 16:11

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Aaah. My bad, I didn't pick up on that right away. I honestly should have. I've seen that before... I knew I recognized it from somewhere. I'm just gonna go hide in a corner all ashamed and what not...

The exuberant (and well thought out) back story threw me off.

Pixel > JBurd67 10/16/2014 at 16:20

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Way too many factors to guess. Your insurance company should be able to give you the amounts of the total loss for both them retaining the car and you retaining the car if you ask.

I'd ask the shop to make you an offer, then compare that to what the ins co will deduct for owner-retained and go forward from there.

JBurd67 > Pixel 10/16/2014 at 16:36

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I tried figuring out what they'd offer for owner-retained, they wouldn't tell me. There's not an adjuster or inspector for them in my area, so they can't give me a concrete answer on anything. That's what makes it such a gray situation. If I had numbers, I'd be able to make the decision.

As much as I'd like to see it move again, I might just have to total it and take the money. It's the safer route, though I might be out a couple hundred more dollars. A little too risky, I think.

Your help and advice is greatly appreciated, however. Thanks a ton!

Ralstig > JBurd67 10/16/2014 at 18:22

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Keeping the car usually isn't too much.

It cost me around $300 to keep my Miata when it was totaled. (got 2.5K for it)

JBurd67 > Ralstig 10/16/2014 at 19:56

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That's a deal! What did it book at? What was the damage?

Ralstig > JBurd67 10/16/2014 at 20:18

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The car was worth around 3k.
I was planning on buying it back no matter what the cost. I had 1k in parts (clutch, flywheel, roll bar) left in the car and that was what I couldn't take off. I was stripping my parts off of it at the scene. We have really bad tow companies in Daytona; I heard lots of bad stories.

Unfortunately, I was justified. The tow co, took a forklift through my hard top and used my roll bar to lift the car. :(

Here are some pics you are interested.
https://onedrive.live.com/redir?resid=6A…

JBurd67 > Ralstig 10/17/2014 at 09:39

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Holy F... That's some serious damage. Mine's not nearly as bad as that. I could see mine going for $600-$800 to the right people. Definitely fixable.

Ralstig > JBurd67 10/17/2014 at 12:34

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Yea, it was pretty bad. The girl turned into me, was practically a head on collision. I was doing around 40, she was doing a little less.

Thank god for a racing harness and proper bucket seat. I didn't feel anything from the wreck.

I was very impressed with how the Miata handled the wreck; especially compared to the Crapalier she was driving.