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What happens when my car is totaled in an accident?

When your car is totaled, the insurance company has an obligation to "make you whole," as that is defined in the policy.

Most policies value your vehicle using Actual Cash Value. "Actual Cash Value" means replacement value less depreciation.

This essentially means you have to be left in approximately the same financial position (with respect to the item insured - not in respect to any liens or leases that hold title to your car) you were in before the accident.

If you have physical damage coverage (comprehensive and collision) the insurance company will typically write you a check for the actual cash value of the vehicle, minus any deductible on your policy. If you are "upside down" on your loan or the cash value is less than your current loan amount ("Upside down" means owing more on a car than it's worth.) then you should consider GAP insurance. In this situation, if you don't have GAP insurance then you would be responsible toward your loan for the remaining balance. The terms of that payment are set through you loan contract.

Comment Update: Please see our related answer titled: How is the "actual cash value" determined?. This should answer your additional questions. It is the same in Arizona as in other states.

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Visitor Comments
car insurance commentsPlease tell me what will happen when the accident is at fault and person has third party insurance. Will he get paid for the value of his car?
car insurance commentsPlease tell me: If the car is totaled what is used to determine the basis of the vehicles replacement value in Arizona, i.e. is it the Trade In Value, Private Party Value or Suggested Retail Value from the Blue Book? Are they required to base value on the Blue Book?
car insurance commentsI am curious if they take your car away.
car insurance commentsit doesnt tell me what they actually do with the car.
car insurance commentsI was trying to find out how much my insurance would go up if I had an accident.
car insurance commentsWHAT IF YOU HAVE GAP INSURANCE AND YOUR CAR IS A TOTAL LOSS
car insurance commentsi think that this answers are really good cause almost nobody know the answers
Question Details
This car insurance answer was last updated 10:12 AM Mar-14.
This claims question was asked 3:37 PM Mar-24-2005.
Rated 5 out of 10 based on 27 votes.
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