Who is responsible for the vehicle after a total loss claim?
2 Answers
Owned by the vehicle owner. More extended information is as follows: Vehicles involved in traffic accidents: For vehicles damaged in traffic accidents, insurance companies will adhere to the principle of "repair first." If the vehicle does not meet the criteria for being written off, compensation will be made according to the terms stipulated in the contract, with the compensation amount used for vehicle repairs. Vehicle damage meeting write-off standards: If the vehicle damage meets the write-off standards, meaning the estimated repair costs are equal to or exceed the actual value of the vehicle, the insurance company will process the claim as a total loss. Assessment department's role: If the vehicle owner personally considers their vehicle a total loss, they cannot directly apply for a write-off claim; the decision depends on the assessment results from the evaluation department.
My car was damaged by flooding last year, so I reported it as a total loss to the insurance company. After their inspection, they determined it couldn't be repaired and paid me a sum of money, but the car immediately ceased to be mine—ownership and all responsibilities were transferred to the insurer. I remember signing some documents to confirm I had relinquished it. The insurance company towed the car away, and I later heard they auctioned it off to a scrapyard. This gave me peace of mind, knowing I wouldn't have to worry about the old car being stolen or causing accidents on the road. The whole process went smoothly, though initially, I had to communicate with the claims adjuster a few times to ensure all paperwork was complete. So, after declaring a total loss, all responsibility for the car lies with the insurance company—don't even think about driving or modifying it to avoid trouble.
