Q: Is there any way to keep a car with clear title when the insurance company has totaled it aside from dropping the claim?
I was rear-ended in my mom's car she lent me for a few months in Florida while I was stopped at a red traffic light by a large pick-up truck. No injury claims. Her car is registered in CT. Her insurance company said the car is a total loss because the repair estimate was 85% of their determined ACV. The estimate was only about $800 over their 75% total loss threshold. They say to owner retain the car, CT requires total loss vehicles newer than 1981 to be a “salvage” title. which would then have to be rebuilt, transported from FL to CT, and pass inspection in CT, which is not feasible to do and end up with just a “rebuilt” title. The car is mechanically sound and drives perfectly. It only has back end body damage. Is there any way to successfully negotiate with the insurance company for them to pay the original estimate (~$7900) to fix the car and keep CLEAR TITLE, if my mom agrees to pay to fix any extra damage that may be found, or get a higher ACV so it's under the threshold?
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