Should I let insurance total my car or just fix it myself…?

I hit a deer recently and filed a comprehensive claim with a $500 deductible.

My insurance says my 2005 Civic is worth $3700, so after the deductible, they’d pay out $3200. They said the salvage value is $900, which means if I buy it back, they’ll cut me a check for $2300.

I found a shop that will repair the damage for $2000 (I’ve got the official estimate). But insurance still wants to total the car and issue a salvage title, paying me the $2300.

Now, I could also do the repair myself. The damage is only cosmetic (fender, headlight, bumper cover), and I’m confident I could handle it because I’ve taken off those parts before. If I can match the color at a junkyard, it’ll be cheap. If I have to buy everything off eBay, it’ll cost around $1000.

So, here are my options:

  1. Withdraw the claim and DIY for ~$1000, but keep the clean title. Net loss: $1000.

  2. Accept the claim, DIY for $1000, but get the $2300 check. Net gain: $1300, but I’ll have a salvage title.

My concern is about retitling the salvage car. I’m in a state where it’s easy to retitle as rebuilt (just file a form saying it’s roadworthy), but what if I move to a stricter state? Also, I’m worried that a rebuilt title could reduce the payout if I’m ever in another accident, like when I got into a small fender bender a couple years ago. I fixed it myself for $200 but still got a $1000 payout from their insurance.

I’d like to keep the car because I can’t find anything mechanically trustworthy for $2300. I’ve always taken care of it, and I trust it to keep running. I don’t trust anything I’d find on Craigslist or Facebook Marketplace for $3000.

Honestly, a 2005 Civic doesn’t have much value left anyway. The difference between a clean title and a salvage/rebuilt title is minimal at this point. I’d just take the money.

Worried about selling a 20-year-old car with a salvage title? Don’t be. You wouldn’t get much for it with a clean title either.

Keegan said:
Worried about selling a 20-year-old car with a salvage title? Don’t be. You wouldn’t get much for it with a clean title either.

It’s a Civic, so it’ll still sell.