As the tow truck takes your car away after an accident, you may be worried about whether or not it can be repaired. Unfortunately, if the cost of repairing your vehicle is more than its market value, your insurance company may declare it a total loss. The mechanics from Schaller Jacobson Collision and Automotive Repair, a full-service auto shop in La Crosse, WI, are here to explain what to do after your car has been declared a total loss.

Talk to an Appraiser

Depending on the nature of your collision, either your insurance company or the insurance company of the other driver will send an appraiser to inspect the damage and assess the value of your car. If you believe that their appraiser is undercutting the actual value of your vehicle, do your own research and contact an appraiser for a second opinion. This will help determine if your vehicle is indeed totaled and ensures that you’ll be reimbursed properly for your car.

Pay Off the Vehicle

If you were financing your vehicle prior to the accident, the amount you are reimbursed by the insurance company will only cover the appraised value of your car. If your policy does not include gap coverage, you will be personally responsible for paying any remaining difference between the value of your car and what you owe.

Decide if You Want to Keep Your Car

From sentimental value to vehicle preference, there may be a number of reasons to keep your car even after it has been declared a total loss. If you choose to do so, you may use the reimbursement check from your insurance company to have repairs done at a local full-service auto shop. Due to the extent of the damage, this could be prohibitively expensive. You will also be given a salvage title for the vehicle, which will make it very difficult to sell in the future.

If you are in need of auto body collision repair after a bad accident or total loss, call Schaller Jacobson Collision and Automotive Repair at (608) 788-2545. For a free estimate from this full-service auto shop for everything from oil changes to auto alignment, visit their website.