If your vehicle has been in a significant accident, there is a possibility that it will be written off. But what does that mean? And who makes that decision?
Ultimately, the decision is made by the insurance claims adjustor. They will look at the value of your vehicle before the accident, and compare that to the cost of repairs. Technically, if the cost of replacing your vehicle is greater than the cost of repairs minus the scrap value of the wrecked vehicle, it is considered a “total loss” (totalled).
In reality, the insurance company knows that dealing with a repair has inherent costs itself (administration, rental cars, diminished value claims), so they tend to trigger a write-off at a much lower value. This threshold varies between insurance companies, but will usually happen when the cost of repair its 60%-80% of the car’s actual value.
Whilst the decision ultimately rests with the insurance company, a trusted auto body shop is an essential partner in this process. An insurance assessor might make a decision from an outside inspection of the vehicle, but an experienced auto body repair expert will be able to make a much more thorough assessment, which might change the circumstances. At Art’s Bodycraft, we put our many years of frame alignment and chassis knowledge to work for you. If we detect hidden frame damage that will affect the safety and drivability of the vehicle after the repair, we will work with you and the insurance company to ensure the true value of the vehicle repair is accounted for, and replaced if necessary.
Art’s Bodycraft has been a trusted supplier of Auto Body Shop services for more than 30 years. That gives us a lot of experience of working with the insurance industry, and is why we are a preferred repair facility for many leading insurance companies. Call us today to discuss your auto body repair needs.
