Lowest estimate: $3600, highest was $4300. Overall conscious is its totaled. But I've put 70 miles on my car since the accident. So shes drive able.

I'm too lazy to take an engine bay picture... :P
In the engine bay the Air filter cover is busted up to ****, and the fuse box cover is broken a smidge aswell, the frame support about the headlight is bent in about an inch.

SO, my question is, how does the buy back process work (from insurance)? Also, how much do you think it will cost me to get a new air filter thingy, headlight, side view mirror, and turn signal?

 

fixedd

 

Damn, that blows. I always worry about deer on my way home from work..
All the broken pieces you can find on eBay or a junk yard for pretty cheap.

As for the insurance, it depends on your provider. Call them and find out.
I hope you get all this sorted out!

 

Insurance had us get estimates, then turn in an estimate to them. All the shops were telling me it was going to be totaled out, one wanted to buy it from me. lol.

 

as a general rule, if the repair estimates reach 80% of the vehicle's book value, they will total it. this is based on the potential for the oh-so-expensive hidden damage, plus the junkyard value. there is a lot of lee-way for the adjuster to either total it sooner, or later, based on the owner's preference.

if they total it out, they will sell it to anyone that wants it for "junkyard" value. you'd get the first chance at it if you are interested. what happens next varies by state, but in general you would 1) receive compensation for the total. 2) buy it back. 3) repair it at your own expense. 4) get it inspected and 5) get a "salvage title".

be aware that a vehicle with a salvage title only has about 50-60% of the sales value of a normal vehicle. if you don't care, or never sell it, then it doesn't matter.
also be aware that most insurance companies won't provide comprehensive or collision coverage on a salvage. so if you don't need that, it doesn't matter. if you do need it, then check it out.

a story - my son's honda got wrecked several years ago. it was good car that i bought pretty cheap. i had repair estimates from $2200 - 5000. book value was about $4800-5000. it was on the bubble to be totaled. so i worked out a deal with the adjuster. i turned in the $4000 estimates and signed a "liability waiver" which limited their repair cost at $4000 and i was responsible for any overage, plus they kicked in another $350 cash for rental car. then i took it the $2200 body shop and kept the difference. i had clear title, so there was no lien holder involved.

 

dhvaughan, wow, you're lucky.I couldn't get a deal like that out of the adjuster I had to work with.. Even after a month. My neon ended up totaled for approx. the same value as the OP.

Personally, I'd forget the whole insurance thing and buy parts and fix it myself.. I wish I had. I ended up settling for 2500, and had to borrow another 600 to get the body shop paid off. All for about 1000 dollars in parts and maybe 500 in paint.
BTW just FYI. Insurance companies are, as anyone can see. Out for themselves. They will figure out any possible way to de-value the vehicle during the estimation phase so they can get above the 75-80% threshold.

 

$2500!!!?? I could fix everything pretty easily.. Minus the frame support thats ****ing bent in.