What happens to your car after a wreck? Just curious...

[epcIII]

So your car is totaled. What happens next? Is it still yours or is it the insurance companies to do what they want with? Just curious if you're allowed to go and get any parts you want from it or what. Do they allows a few days or something before it's off limits? It's never happened to me (yet-knock on wood...) so I have no idea. Thanks.

[09vGT]

If you get a check for it.. Its the insurance companies. Then the car is taken off to auction where people, normally dealers, will buy them to fix up and resell them, or use them for parts. My previous car was a prior salvaged car we bought for super cheap. I kept it for three years and sold it for more than I payed for it including fixing cost.I think though, you can buy it back from the insurance company, then it will be yours again, with a branded title.

[808 Vibes]

Don't say that! Don't even think it!

[dayday]

Our Grand Prix just got totaled. It was in our possession until it was looked at and a decision made. We then did the buy back for $750, sold the car to a friend and got our remaining money from the ins. Co through a check in the mail.

[epcIII]

Quote, originally posted by HawaiiPontiacLover »Don't say that! Don't even think it! LOL. I can't let the Envy crash-- I've been entrusted to guard it forever. Thanks for the input guys, I really didn't have a clue.

[808 Vibes]

Yeah...you don't want the pitchfork-yielding masses after you. Bubblewrap it, OK?

[Kincaid]

If a totaled car goes to the "salvage yard" as opposed to the tow yard, I'm not sure you'd get a crack at getting anything off of it, or switching stuff out back to stock, etc.I'm an insurance adjuster, though I haven't handled vehicle claims in over 12 years.Best deal I ever saw was in the early 90's. An insured's 3-4 year old Toyota extended cab 4x4 was stolen and recovered. Two pretty minor dents in it, wheels and tires stolen, radio gone and damage to the steering wheel column and dash from tearing out the ignition lock and radio. Obviously, the cool thing was that it had no real body or frame damage. Believe it or not it was a police D.A.R.E. vehicle. The police didn't want it back and we sold it to one of the support staff in the office for $500. I think it must have been worth $5-8k at the time. She and her husband had it up and running in a few days.

[SlammedNiss]

If there's any question they might total out your car, pull what you want off before the adjuster comes to look at it.

[epcIII]

Quote, originally posted by SlammedNiss »If there's any question they might total out your car, pull what you want off before the adjuster comes to look at it. Yeah, I wouldn't want to leave my stereo, etc... in it.