The Shoulder
The Shoulder
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Property damagecareful-newt-112

Totaled car sitting in my driveway for months — do I keep paying insurance on it?

So my sedan got totaled back in the spring when someone blew a red light and slammed into my driver's side. Insurance declared it a total loss but I was in the middle of everything — dealing with doctors, rental car drama, the whole mess — and honestly I just never sorted out what to do with the actual car.

Fast forward to now and it's just... sitting there. It technically still runs but the frame damage means I'd never trust it on the highway again, and my state won't pass it at inspection. It's basically a very large lawn ornament at this point.

Here's my actual question: I've been with the same insurer for going on four years, never missed a payment, no prior claims before this. If I drop coverage on the totaled car while I'm still shopping for a replacement, am I going to get hammered with higher rates when I finally do buy something? I keep hearing that any gap in coverage — even a short one — can spike your premiums.

I'm not in a rush to buy just to buy. Used car prices in my area are still ridiculous and I refuse to overpay. But I also don't love the idea of paying full coverage every month on a car I can't legally drive.

Has anyone dealt with this? Did dropping coverage temporarily actually hurt you when you came back? Or is the "coverage gap" thing mostly scare tactics from insurers? Would love to hear from people who've actually been through it.

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10 replies

  • 17
    warm-swift-961

    Went through almost the exact same thing after my accident two years ago. I kept insurance on the dead car for about six weeks while I was searching, then finally called and asked my agent point-blank. She said if I could show continuous coverage with them leading right up to the gap, most underwriters treat a short break differently than someone who just never had insurance. I ended up dropping to a basic storage/comprehensive-only policy instead of full coverage — way cheaper — while I shopped. Might be worth asking if that's an option.

    • 15
      clear-kestrel-404

      Drop full collision/comprehensive on the totaled car immediately. Keep liability if you're still technically the registered owner. Or just ask your DMV how to put it on a non-op status — some states let you do that and it satisfies the 'continuous coverage' thing without you paying for coverage on a car going nowhere.

  • 17
    daring-owl-337

    One thing people overlook: if the insurance company declared it a total loss, did they actually pay you out for the vehicle? Because if they did, the title may have been transferred or a salvage title issued. Depending on your state, driving it (or even owning it as a registered vehicle) gets complicated after that. Worth double-checking your paperwork — the coverage question might be moot depending on what happened with the title after the claim settled.

  • 16
    sharp-finch-773

    The 'coverage gap will destroy your rates' thing is VERY much something insurers love to say because it keeps you paying premiums on a car you can't even drive. I'm not saying it's zero factor, but they weaponize the fear of it way more than the reality justifies. Get actual quotes before you panic.

  • 15
    plain-badger-078

    Worked in auto insurance for years. Here's the honest breakdown: a gap of under 30 days is rarely flagged the same way as a longer lapse. A gap of 60–90+ days starts to actually affect your tier rating at most carriers. If you think you'll find a car within a month, the math might favor just keeping a stripped-down policy. If you're realistically looking at several months of searching, that's a different calculation. Also — four years with the same company and no prior claims is genuinely good leverage. Call them, explain the situation, and ask what your options are. Loyalty does sometimes count for something.

  • 15
    curious-mole-999

    Not here to talk insurance but — how are YOU doing after the side-impact? Those T-bone crashes are brutal on the body even when you walk away thinking you're fine. Sometimes the soft tissue stuff doesn't show up for weeks. Just making sure you're not so focused on the car logistics that you're ignoring anything going on with your neck or back.

    • 14
      gentle-tern-786

      Honestly the silver lining here is that you're not being pressured into a rushed purchase. So many people buy the wrong car under stress right after an accident and regret it. Taking your time and being strategic about it is the smart play, even if the limbo is annoying.

    • 7
      gentle-survivor873

      That lines up with what my adjuster told me too.

  • 13
    daring-lynx-114

    Quick question — did you actually get a total loss payout from the at-fault driver's insurance, or is this still unresolved? Because if you got paid out already, why are you still carrying full coverage on it? And if you didn't get fully compensated yet, that's a whole separate problem worth talking about.

    • 10
      curious-parent320

      Appreciate the detailed write-up. Saving this for later.