Insurance question...is the car insured when I drive it or not?

-=phelan=- wrote: ↑ I'll try to keep this story short...wife got into a collision where she's at fault. Accident wasn't bad but there's a lot of cosmetic damage. Was able to drive the car back home and leave it on the driveway while we contacted the insurance company. During this time, agent said an appraiser will come by to look at the vehicle and see if its worthwhile fixing (it's 8 yrs old). Appraiser visits on Friday and tells me he'll render a decision by Monday latest.

Monday - Get a call from insurance company and tells me it's a write-off and I have 3 days of rental coverage. Told me that another agent will be taking over the case since it's a write off.

Tuesday - Get a voicemail from insurance company telling me that they need some more information about the vehicle for a proper valuation (no problem, i'll give them whatever they need). They inform me that the vehicle is "not repairable" (I believe it exceeded the 70% value of the vehicle). They also believe the vehicle to be at an auto collision centre when it's on my driveway (I called them after hours and left them a voicemail about this).

So my question is this...if I drive the vehicle tomorrow for work (I leave for work at 6am before their office opens), is the car considered insured when I drive it even when I've been notified it's "not repairable"? As I haven't been advised "not to drive it"?

Thanks for any advice on this as it's a bit "murky" as the insurance company thinks for some reason it's at XYZ collision centre when it's not. And I can't seem to get in touch with anyone at 6am and it's past their evening hours right now.

Quentin5 wrote: ↑ You may be able to "buy" the vehicle off the insurance company and keep it.
Cosmetic damage that doesn't need repairing or only needs minor structural repairs need not relegate the car to the junkyard.
That said how extensive is the damage?

70% of an 8 year old car can be extensive but it depends on the model and condition of the car. I have seen fender benders with 10K of damage as insane as that sounds.

ji2o0k wrote: ↑ I’d err on the side of caution and tow it to the collision centre if possible vs drive it.


If you are able to buy it back, might be most economical to go to wreckers and get replacement doors and quarter panel…..and see if a body shop can paint to match?

-=phelan=- wrote: ↑ I'm questioning why tow it to the collision centre at all vs having them tow it from my private residence? There's really no difference where they "tow it away from" correct? This is of course if I choose not to buy it back in their settlement offer.

just to update everyone I've called and left another voicemail for them to get in touch with me to discuss the valuation etc. this morning and will pose the question whether I'm allowed to drive it or not once I have them on the phone.

peteryorkuca wrote: ↑ Also consider whether current insurance co will insure your salvaged titled car. Some won't and some will. Might be best to move to another insurance co if the current refuses.

-=phelan=- wrote: ↑ Hey guys just wanted to update you on this...so the answer is yes I'm insured when I'm driving my "written off" car lol However, the claims advisor said that he "advises" not to drive a damaged car around town as it is considered "damaged". He did take note that I didn't use any rental car days and was willing to give me a "cash out" credit on this if we were to "settle" (yet to receive their initial offer).

Wow is all I gotta say...so when talked to the claims advisor he said the damage estimated to the car from the appraiser is just under 10k so it's past the threshold and thus it's written off for that reason (not structural damage). So I took the car to a auto body shop that my mechanic trusts and uses (i trust my mechanic) and asked them to take a look at it and asked them how much it would take to fix it privately, they said anywhere between 3500-4500 (for sure under 5k). They also said no structural or suspension damage either. Given the amount of damage originally estimated at 10k from the appraiser, and knowing that 70% is usually the threshold for write offs, could I assume they are valuing the car $14,285 (my math being 10000/.7)?

Additionally, the claims advisor said that the buyback amount is 65% of whatever the settlement value is...so if the settlement value is 14,285 x .65 = 9285.25 to buy it out...plus my 5k (assuming here to fix it privately) it'll cost me 14285.25 to fix it....

Just putting this out there...am I missing something in my math/logic?

Thoughts TIA...

edit: also what came up during our initial convo is that the car will not be branded...so no worries on salvage/rebuilt titles.

COSMIC5 wrote: ↑ when you buy a vehicle back without having the repairs done, the insurance company will request proof that you've repaired the vehicle in order to have coverage remaining on it...

-=phelan=- wrote: ↑ I'll try to keep this story short...wife got into a collision where she's at fault. Accident wasn't bad but there's a lot of cosmetic damage. Was able to drive the car back home and leave it on the driveway while we contacted the insurance company. During this time, agent said an appraiser will come by to look at the vehicle and see if its worthwhile fixing (it's 8 yrs old). Appraiser visits on Friday and tells me he'll render a decision by Monday latest.

Monday - Get a call from insurance company and tells me it's a write-off and I have 3 days of rental coverage. Told me that another agent will be taking over the case since it's a write off.

Tuesday - Get a voicemail from insurance company telling me that they need some more information about the vehicle for a proper valuation (no problem, i'll give them whatever they need). They inform me that the vehicle is "not repairable" (I believe it exceeded the 70% value of the vehicle). They also believe the vehicle to be at an auto collision centre when it's on my driveway (I called them after hours and left them a voicemail about this).

So my question is this...if I drive the vehicle tomorrow for work (I leave for work at 6am before their office opens), is the car considered insured when I drive it even when I've been notified it's "not repairable"? As I haven't been advised "not to drive it"?

Thanks for any advice on this as it's a bit "murky" as the insurance company thinks for some reason it's at XYZ collision centre when it's not. And I can't seem to get in touch with anyone at 6am and it's past their evening hours right now.