I've never seen anyone say they'd do it again though. I have seen them curse and swear, rant and rave, shout and scream and throw things, and I've even seen a few grown men break down and cry in frustration. But I've never ever seen anyone say they'd keep a salvaged car again. It's just not worth the stress.
Once a vehicle is declared a total loss, it has to be re-certified before it can legally be driven. And it's not just a standard certification, it has to go through the standard safety check and then a structural safety check, and then an emissions test, and everybody in the world wants certified copies of each. And if it's not completed within a tight deadline, you have to start the whole process over again.
Nobody cares that only the body was damaged or that the vehicle is in perfect running condition. The total loss decision is made strictly on dollar values, and your car would cost more to fix than it's worth. They had to draw the line somewhere, and dollar value is where it's drawn.
Trust me, take the cash and find another vehicle. No automobile is worth what that process will do to you.
Do you have the space, the time, the tools and the know-how to fix the car? If not, take the higher price.
If you decide to take it, can you fix it for $2700 bucks and once it is fixed, will the car be worth the effort?
If it was a running piece of crap before the accident, it will be a running piece of crap after the accident too.
Sometimes, you just have to let go.
Since the difference between the two options is $1,000 I would determine whether a. the car can be restored for $1,000 or less or b. the car can be restored with a resale value of greater than $1000+the cost of repairing it. If you or your dad is mechanically inclined, then that estimated cost may be a lot lower than taking it in to a shop, since a lot of the total cost goes to labor and services.
Can it be repaired for $2700 or less? Keep it. No? Get rid of it. Not that tough a call, kid.
get it fixed , why not , then sell it
I was in a car accident and the other person's insurance is paying for everything. I went and got estimates at several diff auto shops and they told me my car might be a total loss. I got a call from the insurance company telling me its a loss.
They offered me around 3700 if i dont keep the car and 2700 if i keep it. I told my dad and he wants to keep it and get it fixed b/c he bought it(i helped and the rest of the money for the car was a gift). I honestly dont think its worth the trouble. Itll cost more than what theyll give me to fix it.
My instincts are telling me to just take the higher price. What would you all do? Serious answers only and no rude responses please.
