Can my insurance declare my car a total loss

General
1

I drive a 2008 Toyota Camry with a 4-cylinder engine. If you know this car, you know it has tons of problems and recalls. It’s too old for dealership fixes, and I bought it used in 2021 when I was desperate for a car. The main issue is it drinks oil like crazy. I have to add oil every few weeks so it doesn’t burn up. It might be a piston problem, but fixing it would cost more than the car’s value now.

I still owe $4,000 on my loan, and there’s no way it would get that much in trade-in value. I have comprehensive and GAP insurance through my loan company. Is there any way I could get my insurance to declare the car totaled so I can move on to something more reliable and safe? If yes, how should I approach this?

2

Your insurance will only total the car if there’s a covered incident, like an accident or a fire. Mechanical issues aren’t covered, no matter how bad they are.

3

If this post is serious, someone might have really misinformed you. Insurance won’t pay for mechanical problems unless they’re caused by a collision.

4

Was there an accident or did something like a tree fall on it?

5

Insurance only covers sudden damage, not regular wear and tear.

6

This isn’t a covered situation, so your insurance company won’t be involved at all.

7

It sounds like you’re hinting at committing fraud. You might want to rethink this.

8

What you’re asking for would be insurance fraud, which is illegal.

9

They won’t total your car just because it’s old and needs work. Maybe junk it and look into something newer.

10

This doesn’t seem like a serious question. Insurance doesn’t work like that.

11

Mechanical problems won’t lead to an insurance total loss.

12

Your only real options are to sell it or maybe take it to Copart. I work in total loss claims, and it doesn’t work the way you’re thinking. If it did, everyone would be filing claims.

13

Leave it somewhere sketchy with the keys in it. :call_me_hand:t3:

14

Uma said:
Leave it somewhere sketchy with the keys in it. :call_me_hand:t3:

That would definitely count as fraud.