The Shoulder
The Shoulder
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Property damagepatient-finch-235

Adjuster said 'probably totaled' over the phone but repair guy says otherwise — confused

So I got rear-ended pretty hard about two weeks ago. Car was still drivable — I actually made it home fine — but the trunk area and rear bumper look rough. I filed a claim and during my very first phone call with the adjuster, before anyone had even looked at the car, she casually mentioned it 'might end up a total loss.' That freaked me out.

I pushed back and asked for an actual physical inspection before anyone made that call. A repair appraiser came out, walked around the car, took a bunch of photos, and then emailed me saying it looks repairable and I should go ahead and get it into a shop.

Here's what I'm stressed about now:

1. If the shop fixes it, does my title change? Like, will I end up with a salvage or rebuilt title even though it's being repaired normally? 2. Should I be worried the shop will find more damage once they actually get in there and tear things apart? And if the estimate jumps way up, does that change the total-loss calculation?

For context — my car's market value is solidly mid-range for its age and trim, and the current repair estimate is sitting at roughly 20% of that value. I know some states have a threshold where if repairs cross a certain percentage of the car's value, it tips into total-loss territory.

I'm not trying to be difficult with the insurance company, I just want to understand what I'm walking into before I drop it off at the shop. Has anyone gone through something like this where the estimate ballooned after teardown?

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9 replies

  • 22
    wise-newt-720

    Short answer: no, a normal repair does not give you a salvage title. Long answer: get the shop to do a full teardown estimate before you authorize repairs, and make sure the insurance company commits in writing to covering any additional damage found. Supplement claims after teardown are super common with rear-end hits — there's often more hiding under the surface. Don't just drop it off and assume the first estimate is final.

    • 7
      quiet-dreamer674

      Same boat here. Did anyone mention a deadline to watch out for?

  • 16
    patient-fox-858

    I know this is mostly about the car logistics but — you mentioned the impact was pretty hard. Are you doing okay physically? Sometimes rear-end injuries don't fully show up for a few days. Just make sure you're not so focused on the car stuff that you're ignoring any stiffness or headaches. Document any symptoms too, even if they seem minor right now.

  • 11
    quick-marmot-897

    I went through almost this exact thing last year. Adjuster on the phone was already talking total loss before my car had been touched. Turned out it was fully repairable and I got a clean title back, no issue. As long as it doesn't get classified as a total loss by the insurance company, your title stays clean. The salvage title situation only kicks in if they actually declare it totaled and take ownership of the vehicle.

    • 19
      keen-finch-761

      Your instinct about the threshold percentage is right — most states do have a total loss threshold (somewhere between 70-100% of ACV depending on where you live), and if repair costs cross that line after teardown, it CAN get reclassified. If that happens, you'd typically have options: accept the total loss payout, or in some states, buy the car back from the insurer at salvage value and get a rebuilt title. Not legal advice, just stuff I've seen come up a lot in these situations. Might be worth a quick look at your specific state's rules.

  • 11
    patient-seal-628

    Honestly the fact that you pushed back and got a physical inspection instead of just rolling over when the adjuster said 'probably totaled' — that was the right move. You advocated for yourself and it paid off. The repair path is almost always better for your title and long-term resale. Hang in there, this part is just paperwork and patience.

  • 9
    tidy-swan-949

    So here's the inside view on this — adjusters sometimes float the 'total loss' idea early because it can actually be less administrative work for the company. Don't read too much into an offhand comment during a first call. What matters is the official determination after the vehicle is inspected.

    On your title question: a repair does NOT change your title. Salvage titles happen when an insurer declares a total loss, pays you out, and takes the vehicle. If yours gets repaired under a standard claim, your title is untouched. That said, the accident will still show up in vehicle history reports, which can affect resale value — that's a separate issue worth knowing about.

    • 7
      patient-neighbor939

      Curious whether you did this on your own or had help with it.

  • 7
    brave-badger-911

    Keep a paper trail of EVERYTHING. Screenshot that email from the repair appraiser saying it looks repairable. If the shop finds more damage and the estimate climbs, the adjuster might suddenly flip back to 'total loss' — and at that point you want documentation that you were told repair was the path forward. Adjusters can change their tune fast when the numbers shift.