Salvage titles-was <VV> Stolen cars, was: Registering

[Frank DuVal]

The term "total" is just an economic term used by insurance companies. 
Loose translation: "total" is the point where the cost of repairs (or 
cost of settling claim, to include rental expense,etc.) equal the ACV 
(actual cash value) minus the salvage value (what they can get for it at 
auction). So cars with high auction value total much quicker. Cars that 
are projected to be off the road for repair a long time (high rental 
cost) also total quicker.

"Total" has nothing to do with structural integrity being comprimised. 
It has nothing to do with safety. It only has to do with dollars.

Frank DuVal

Mike Ioanes wrote:

> IMHO, insurance companies total cars too quickly.  It is possible, in 
> Ohio at least, to repair and put back on the road a vehicle with a 
> salvage title. I have seen a few with what I considered fairly minor 
> damage that had been totaled and a salvage title issued.
>
> Mike Ioanes
>