Accident -- Think it's totaled
 

I have a 2009 RX 350 that was just involved in a major wreck. I came away with some scratches and a sore neck but I should be okay. Taking this week off work. Anyways I don't want to wait until the insurance company decides if its totaled or not. how can i do some research on what certain things will cost? I don't have any pictures but damage was to the front passenger side. The side mirror is completely messed up and so is the headlight on that side. My car has a button called AFS and that means the headlights are adaptive. Does this mean it'll cost a lot more money to fix than if they were regular? There is obvious frame damage and the front fender from the license plate all the way to the wheel well is bashed in pretty good. The windshield is also done for.

I figure just the adaptive lighting system would be a lot of money, nevermind the frame damage, fender, windshield, paint, side mirror, etc. What do you think I'm looking at? KBB has my car at like 5,000 dollars and I owe 12,000 on it. Thankfully I have GAP in case it is totaled. What do you all think?

if the frame is bent it is most likely a write off. in australia the damage you describe is in excess of $5k so a write off.

Over here in the states, the value my insurance company would use might be different than KBB. I have no idea. KBB it seems has undervalued my car because I can go online and find several local 07-09 RX350's with similar mileage for at least 9 or 10,000 US dollars. So if they use a different metholodgy and determine it's worth 9,000, then does the insurance company total if the car can be fixed for under 9,000? Does this amount include labor? What about OEM parts? So much I don't know and it's annoying because they told me it might not be until later this week that I hear something.

Likely. Bodyshop uses Mitchell or similar software for estimates. That headlight comes up for 1600$ alone. Now add bumper cover, windsheild, fender. Materials & eco fees for paint, labor, removal and any towing/storage fees. Little things always come up to, clips, retainers, etc. That aren't visible to the naked eye. On a car that's worth 9k on a good day, its a hard sell to justify fixing it.

A pic usually helps. I've seen many people claim "frame damage" without the slightest clue, while looking at cosmetic damages.
Also, no one on these forums can ever estimate for you, and bodyshop staff rarely spend their days chatting about it.

Yeah I wished I took a picture or two of it. It was at night so I'm not sure if I would have gotten a good pic of it or not. I really like the car so I worry they will total it. I've been in another accident, in 2013 and I was amazed at they came up with $6,300 to fix the front end of my Camry. It didn't even look all that bad, less so than this and this is actually a luxury car so I'm sure parts will cost more. I really hope it's not totaled but I"m almost certain it is.

in australia if a car is totalled, you get paid the insured amount, but have the option of buying the "wreck" for a small price. you can then repair it using second hand parts if the chassis is not bent.

Where'd you have it towed to? I would of had it towed to whatever bodyshop you use......

It's at my parent's house right now. I don't think the apartment management here want a wrecked car in their lot. If they total it, then a truck will pick it up and take it away. If they don't total it, I will have it hauled to a body shop in the area......

I'd think your insurance company would be get going on a estimate or possibly you'd need to push them to get going. You do have a rental car right?

Called today and said they are still processing the claim. Said hopefully should hear back tomorrow before the end of the day. I'll update everyone on here.

I don't have a rental but there's not much need. I can walk to work since i work a few miles away. and if worse came to worse, I can always take the transit to the grocery store or wherever I need to go. Not that i want to with all the homeless and drugs and psychos but still. That's an option until i hear back and get something figured out with another vehicle if need be.

They should be sending out someone to get a estimate & to give them a idea.........

Nope. Took longer than I thought. They had me submit pictures, which I turned in 8 of the car all around, and they based their decision off that. The decision being to total it. Nobody came out to assess the damage.

Thankfully I had GAP to take care of it since I was underwater, according to their method of determining market value. Now to figure out what car to get next. SUV's are junk, practically all of them except maybe a LC/LX but those total gas pigs. Trucks, yuck. At least the 4-door variety.

Any ideas what I should get?

Lexus RX400H?

If you liked the rx, I'd tell your insurance company to replace your vehicle w/ another like mileage, condition, optioned vehicle. Start looking around & open up your search radius.....Yrs ago, the my insurance commpany totaled on of my Mustang's, I ended up printing a few add's to get a additional $3700......Don't let them lowball you.......

you gotta remember that the insurance company considers a car totalled when the repair costs are more than 75% of the cars value. What you think the car's value is is not the same as the insurance company's. They work with a lower set of numbers.

If the insurance company totals the car, they will give you a check for the 75% value. If you want to buy the car from them, they will deduct the scrap value from the check. Ten years ago when I crashed a car, the scrap value was $1600. It is probably more now.

Good luck.