Is there a formula the insurance companies use to determine salvage value of your car?

Different insurance companies use different figures to determine whether or not a vehicle is a total loss or not. Usually it is between 70 to 80 percent of the value of the vehicle. There is usually a special total loss adjuster who handles these cases once the normal property damage adjuster has determined it to be a total loss.

Within all insurance policies it spells out that your insurance company has the option of paying to repair your vehicle, replace the vehicle, or pay you the actual cash value of the vehicle. All of these cases will be less your deductible of course. If they pay you the full actual cash value of the vehicle then of course the vehicle belongs to them. Sometimes you can buy it back from them if you like. I always recommend that people do not buy the car back because of the issues involved with this. In order to be able to get a tag for it again you will have to repair it completely and it will have to be inspected by the state. After this you will receive a salvage title that shows the new owner and all future owners that it was a total loss at one time. This makes it worth far less than any others if you want to sell it in the future.