A Guide to Car Insurance Total Loss of Vehicle

Motor accidents can be fatal and dangerous. Vehicles sometimes go through unrepairable damage. Car insurance for total vehicle loss comes into play in this scenario. But what does it mean?

Total loss is when the vehicle is so damaged that repairing it would cost more than its value. It is also employed when cars are damaged due to natural disasters or stolen and not recovered until after the car has been replaced.

Unfortunately, it isn’t you who decides whether the car is meant for the salvage yard. Motor insurance providers decide if the car should be repaired or declared a total loss. The process to start this is very much like a regular claim. To make a claim you must:

1. Contact the police for a copy of the police report on your accident
2. Inform your insurance provider
3. Attach copies of your documents (driving license, Emirates ID)
4. Attach any evidence you have collected
5. Include the total cost of repair

The insurance provider will then calculate the repair costs against the vehicle’s actual value listed on the policy. Some providers declare total loss if the damage exceeds 80% of the value. Some cap it off at 50%.

Car Insurance Total Loss Calculator

Car insurance for the total loss of a vehicle is calculated keeping certain factors in mind. First, the provider assigns an adjuster to inspect your vehicle. It is the adjuster’s job to calculate the Actual Cash Value of the vehicle. It is decided by:

1. Depreciation value
2. The year the car was manufactured
3. Make and model of vehicle
4. Mileage on vehicle
5. Wear and tear sustained
6. Market demand for vehicle

The process for calculating total loss then becomes simple:

1. The ACV calculated is assumed to be the market value of the vehicle in its pre-accident state
2. If the damage and its repair exceed 50% of the ACV it is declared a total loss

However, there is a glimmer of hope. The factors calculating ACV are unique to each case. Therefore, it is possible to get a better result. There have been cases where cars have been declared a total loss after minor damage. It was because they were a decade old and no longer in demand. Similarly, major damage to a brand new vehicle wouldn’t be considered a loss.

What to Expect After

What comes after can seem a bit daunting. It involves a lot of math and insurance jargon. But no worries, we can simplify it for you. A term that will crop up is indemnity. It sounds dangerous, but it’s not. It refers to the sum of money paid as compensation for your loss. Therefore, indemnity is a good thing that you should keep bringing up.

Now, the insurance provider will take the insured value before signing the policy as the basis for calculating indemnity. However, this is subject to 20% depreciation per annum. Yes, this doesn’t sound good. No, it isn’t illegal. Let us explain.

How much indemnity you get depends on how long you’ve had the policy. You can expect a lower indemnity if your policy is more than five years old. However, you can get a better deal if you face total loss damage within a year of the policy. The insurance company will even pay for a replacement vehicle of the same value.

However, your chances are better if you buy a proper policy with collision coverage. Higher coverage for collision helps you cushion the financial blow of total loss. Therefore, it is highly important to read your policy thoroughly before signing. Ask questions, no matter how uncomfortable. Do your research. Conduct online comparisons. Don’t settle for a policy.

Incidentally, switching policies ever so often is also recommended. Online markets are full of car insurance policies up for the taking. Furthermore, there are constant deals and offers available to take advantage of. Don’t stay committed to a policy for too long. So, keep switching it up for greater advantage to your vehicle.

FAQs

What is a total loss in car insurance in the UAE?

A total loss occurs when your car is damaged badly enough in a crash that it would cost more to repair the car than it would to replace it. A total loss also applies if your car is stolen, so long as you have comprehensive coverage.

What happens when my car is a total loss in the UAE?

A total loss works much like a regular car insurance claim in the UAE. A claim adjuster will meet with you to review the damage and determine how much you should be paid, and the Company compensates the Insurance policy holder on that basis, the salvage will be deemed property of the Company. You may not be charged any expenses related to the transfer of the Motor Vehicle title or issuance of a certificate of ownership of the Motor Vehicle.

How is the total loss claim settled in the UAE?

In case of a total loss of a car, the overall cost of repair and retrieval of the vehicle exceeds 75% of the Insured Declared Value (IDV) of the vehicle. In such a case, the insurance company reimburses the current IDV of the vehicle minus the amount of compulsory excess.

How does an insurance company decide the value of a totaled car?

Total loss value is determined by adding up the cost of the repair and associated costs, the value your car loses due to an accident, and the rental reimbursement costs while your vehicle is down for repairs. Then, the value the insurer will sell the damaged car for salvage is taken off.

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