How do you determine if your car is totaled?
A “total loss” in car insurance is a term insurers use when the cost to repair your car is more than the value of the vehicle. Your insurance company will typically complete an inspection of the damaged vehicle before officially declaring it a total loss.
When assessing your vehicle, most insurers factor in the condition and structure of your car in addition to any state laws. In some states, a vehicle is automatically deemed to be a total loss if the cost to repair it exceeds a certain percentage of the vehicle’s worth.
How is your totaled vehicle covered on your policy?
If another driver is at fault in the accident, their insurance pays you the value of your totaled vehicle with the at-fault driver’s property damage liability coverage. If your vehicle is damaged in any way or you were hit by a driver without insurance, the coverages below can protect against a totaled vehicle on YOUR insurance policy:
- Comprehensive:
Protects your vehicle against things out of your control. If your car is totaled after a fire, weather-related event or collision with an animal, comprehensive coverage will pay you the value of your vehicle, minus any deductible. Comprehensive can also pay you the vehicle’s value, minus your deductible, if your car is stolen and then recovered but too badly damaged to repair.
- Collision:
If your car is totaled after colliding with a vehicle, tree, guardrail, or any other object, collision coverage pays for the value of the damaged vehicle, regardless of fault and minus any deductible.
- Uninsured motorist property damage (UMPD) and underinsured motorist property damage (UIMPD):
UMPD/UIMPD applies when a driver with no insurance or not enough coverage is at-fault in an accident that totaled your vehicle. UMPD/UIMPD may be beneficial if you don’t have collision coverage and can cover your vehicle up to a specified dollar amount on your policy, instead of the vehicle’s value. The availability of UMPD/UIMPD varies by state and a deductible may apply.
Please note that in certain situations, UMPD/UIMPD may not offer enough coverage to pay the value of your vehicle. For example, if the UMPD limit on your policy is $25,000 and your car is valued at $35,000, you’ll be $10,000 short. To avoid this situation, it’s a good idea to carry collision coverage if your vehicle’s value exceeds the limit of your UMPD/UIMPD coverage.
What happens next if you total a financed car?
Assuming you’re covered, your insurer will send a payment to your lender for the actual cash value of the car, minus any deductible. Make sure you give your lender’s contact information and the account number to your agent or insurance company. If your car is totaled and you still owe on it but the accident was not your fault, contact the at-fault driver’s insurance company with your lender information.
To maintain your good credit, you should to continue to make your loan or lease payments until the insurance company issues payment to your lender. If you don’t have insurance or don’t have enough coverage, you’re on the hook for the balance left on your vehicle even though the car is no longer drivable.
What happens if the insurance payment isn’t enough to pay off your loan?
Gap insurance, also known as “loan/lease payoff coverage,” covers the difference between what you owe on the vehicle and the vehicle’s actual worth. For example: Your insurer determines the actual cash value of your totaled car was $35,000. However, you owe $37,500 on your car loan. Your loan/lease payoff coverage takes care of the extra $2,500. Without gap insurance, you’re responsible for the $2, 500 balance left on your loan.
Gap coverage can cover the difference between what you owe on the vehicle and the vehicle’s actual worth.
Keep in mind, new car owners may be most susceptible to the situation above. Newer vehicles typically depreciate as soon as you drive the vehicle home from the dealership.
Insurance can be intimidating at times. Here at Capital Insurance Services we are here to help break down the coverages for you for your peace of mind. Remember, not only do we offer great coverages but also at an affordable rate!
