Reader’s Question:
If the estimate to repair a car is more than the automobile is worth, will car insurance pay the additional cost to repair? I live in Appleton, Wisconsin.
Carol
Appleton, WI
Normally an Appleton, Wisconsin insurance carrier will not pay more than a vehicle is worth to repair it. As a matter of fact, many times if the cost to repair the vehicle is anywhere from 75 -100% of the value of the car an insurance provider will not pay for repairs but instead total out the car and pay the policyholder actual cash value (ACV) for the automobile.
When a vehicle’s damage reach, and especially they exceed, the value of the vehicle it is not economical for an insurance carrier to repair the vehicle instead of settlement with the owner for the actual cash value or fair market value of the automobile. Repairs, towing, storage costs, rental reimbursement costs are all taken into consideration by an insurance carrier when determining if a vehicle should be totaled out or not.
If the cost of damages is nearly the actual cash value of the vehicle and there are other expenses such as towing and storage of the car that are also costly then many times the vehicle will be declared a total loss even if the damages alone are not as costly as the the value of the vehicle but with the extras it makes more economical sense to total out the car and sell it for salvage.