💥 What Happens If Your Car Is a Total Loss? Understanding the Process After a Crash
After a car accident, one of the most frustrating things to hear from your insurance company is:
“Your vehicle is a total loss.”
But what does that really mean? And what happens next?
At Tino’s Body Shop, we help customers through the total loss process every week. Whether your car is totaled or you’re just worried it might be, here’s what you need to know — step-by-step.
🚗 What Is a “Total Loss”?
Your car is considered a total loss when the cost to repair it is more than what the car is worth.
For example:
If your car is worth $6,000, and repairs would cost $7,500 — your insurance company will not fix it. Instead, they’ll “total” it and offer you a payout for the car’s value.
In Texas, most insurers use a 70%–80% repair cost threshold to decide if a vehicle is totaled.
✅ Step-by-Step: What Happens When Your Car Is Totaled
1. The Estimate
You bring your vehicle to a body shop like Tino’s Body Shop, or your insurance sends an adjuster. We inspect the damage and provide a repair estimate.
2. Insurance Reviews the Numbers
The insurance company compares:
The repair cost
The car’s current market value (based on mileage, condition, location, etc.)
If repairs cost more than your car’s value, they declare it a total loss.
3. You Receive a Payout Offer
They’ll offer you a check based on your vehicle’s ACV (Actual Cash Value) before the accident.
✔ You can negotiate if you believe their offer is too low.
✔ You may be able to provide proof of upgrades or maintenance to increase the value.
4. They Take Ownership
If you accept the payout:
You sign the title over to the insurance company
They take the car and give you the check
🤔 What If You Still Owe on the Car?
If your loan is more than the value of the car, you may be “upside down.” You’ll still owe the difference unless you have GAP insurance, which covers the balance.
🛠️ Can You Keep a Totaled Car?
Yes — this is called a “buyback.” You can:
Accept a lower payout
Keep the vehicle and repair it yourself (or with a shop)
The title will be marked “salvage” or “rebuilt,” which affects resale
📌 Tino’s Body Shop can help you decide if keeping and repairing the car makes sense financially.
📄 Documents You’ll Need
Your vehicle title
ID
Loan payoff info (if financed)
A signed release from insurance
🧠 Tips to Protect Yourself During a Total Loss Claim
Get your own repair estimate before accepting the total loss label
Look up your vehicle’s market value on Kelley Blue Book or NADA
Don’t rush — ask questions and make sure the numbers make sense
Call us — we’ll help guide you through the process
🤝 How Tino’s Body Shop Helps
Even if your car is totaled, we can still help you:
Get a second opinion on whether it’s really a total loss
Negotiate a fair insurance payout
Buy back and repair the vehicle if that’s your choice
Get into your next vehicle with trusted referrals
📍 Need Help After an Accident?
Let our team walk you through every option — not just the ones the insurance company pushes.
Tino’s Body Shop – Dallas, TX
✅ Insurance Claims Welcome
✅ Total Loss Support
✅ Honest Estimates
📍 5303 W Jefferson Blvd, Dallas TX
📞 (682) 344-6270
🌐 www.tinosbodyshop.com