Questions & answers · Car insurance
They totaled my car. How is the amount set, can I keep the car, and what happens to the title?
Car insurancePaid too littleTexasChecked Nov 6, 2026
From K.Actuary, founded by Sangmin Kwon, ASA · sources checked 2026-11-06 · Source: TDI View original ↗
In short
- For a totaled car, the insurer pays up to its value minus wear and age.
- If you keep the car, they take off its salvage value.
- Ask for the value report in writing and compare local listings.
What this means
The ceiling on what they pay. TDI says a company pays for repair or replacement only up to the car's actual cash value. Actual cash value is the cost to replace the car, minus depreciation. Depreciation is the drop in value from wear and tear, or from age [1].
If you want to keep the car. TDI says the company will take its salvage value off the settlement. And if your car is given a nonrepairable title, it cannot be retitled or registered [1]. So ask which title brand the company will report before you decide to keep it.
The rental stops. TDI says that if the company totals your car, it might stop paying for the rental a few days after it tells you [2].
Your next step
Ask for the valuation report in writing. Ask which cars it compared, what it took off for mileage and condition, and the salvage figure. Then look up the same local listings yourself. The sources give no deadline.
Check it yourself
Open the TDI page. Read what actual cash value means. Read what a nonrepairable title does. The rules here are Texas examples.
Where this comes from (2)
[1] TDI · checked 2026-11-06
Insurance companies will pay for repairs or replacement of your car only up to its actual cash value. Actual cash value is the cost to replace your car, minus depreciation. Depreciation is a decrease in value because of wear and tear or age. … If you want to keep your car, the insurance company will subtract its salvage value from the settlement amount. If your car is issued a nonrepairable title, it can't be retitle…
[2] TDI · checked 2026-11-06
If the company totals your car, it might stop paying for the rental a few days after telling you.
How we found this
We matched your question to 2 official sources, quoted the exact lines, and re-checked each quote against its source on 2026-11-06.
What we don’t know yet
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Information only — not legal advice. Your plan, insurer or agency decides.
This answer quotes the official sources listed above, with the date we checked them. Your own policy, notice and state rules control. We are not your lawyer or your insurer. We don’t file, argue or negotiate claims for you — you send any letter or form yourself.
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- My car was declared a total loss and I think the insurer's value is too low. What can I ask for?
Answer id CQ6103. Spotted an error? Tell us.