Expert: Richard - 7/16/2009

Question
If your car is totaled from a hail storm I hear you have a right to buy it back? At what percent should you be able to buy it back and if you do knowing you cant get full coverage as it is a salvage title can you still just get collision coverage for the other driver

Answer
Hi Frank, if your vehicle became totalled out by your insurance company they would either allow you to keep it or they would negotiate a reduction of what they pay out on the claim so that you could keep the vehicle.  I do not believe that any "percentage" amount is in any insurance law language.  As far as collision coverage is concerned that is an insurance that you can purchase only for your vehicle so that you would be covered in a hit & run event, a tree falling on the vehicle etc.  The only type of auto insurance coverage which would pay for damages caused by you and your vehicle to another person's vehicle or person would be liability and property damage insurance.