I don’t get why anyone would think this is totaled. It’s not that bad.
Insurance might call it totaled, but you could fix this yourself for about $800 or less, especially if it doesn’t need to look perfect.
Hale said:
Insurance might call it totaled, but you could fix this yourself for about $800 or less, especially if it doesn’t need to look perfect.
Honestly, even cheaper if you’ve got a good junkyard nearby. You can find clean 9th-gen Civic parts for a bargain.
@Kai
That’s what I did for my car when someone backed into me. After fixing it, you couldn’t even tell it was damaged.
Cael said:
@Kai
That’s what I did for my car when someone backed into me. After fixing it, you couldn’t even tell it was damaged.
Exactly .
Hale said:
Insurance might call it totaled, but you could fix this yourself for about $800 or less, especially if it doesn’t need to look perfect.
Thanks for the tip! Why would insurance call it totaled though?
@Hart
They usually assume factory-new parts are needed for the repairs. Plus, they’d claim the scratched headlight and hood need replacing too, even if they’re still functional.
Hale said:
Insurance might call it totaled, but you could fix this yourself for about $800 or less, especially if it doesn’t need to look perfect.
Appreciate the advice!
From the pictures, it looks like you’ll need a fender, bumper, headlight, and maybe some minor metal parts like the headlight bracket. Parts should run $600–800 if you shop around, maybe cheaper at a junkyard. Labour for a decent mechanic could push it to $1200–1500 total.
@Shiloh
Thank you for breaking it down for me .
@Shiloh
That fender can be fixed at a local shop for around $50 if it doesn’t need paint. Then just get a bumper for about $300.
If you fix it yourself, it won’t cost much. Just don’t let an insurance adjuster see it; they’ll call it totaled.
Kai said:
If you fix it yourself, it won’t cost much. Just don’t let an insurance adjuster see it; they’ll call it totaled.
What’s an insurance adjuster? My insurance agency told me to wait until Monday to check my policy and see if the other party filed a claim. I plan to drive the car to a shop since everything works except the left blinker.
@Hart
An adjuster is just the person who evaluates the damage for the insurance company. It’s good your car still runs, but let’s hope they don’t value the damage higher than the car’s worth. They might force you to give it up.
Do you live in LA? If you do, I’d be interested in buying a car door.
This isn’t bad enough to write off. If it was close, they could always use OEM parts to keep costs down.
You can find a bumper online from aftermarket sellers for under $300. Some even come with fog light slots you can upgrade later when you have extra money.