On 1/29/04 3:58 PM, in article
SlfSb.19371$aA.1532@newssvr25.news.prodigy.com, "Dave Hau"
<nospam_dave_nospam_123@nospam_netscape_nospam.net _nospam> wrote:

> Several weeks ago I had an accident causing the front of my '91 accord to be
> slight to moderately warped, with the bumper and front lights damaged. It
> was Friday night, I was on the highway, and the car had more than 200k miles
> already. So I decided to just call a nearby towing service to dispose of
> the car. (The car was in decent shape before the accident. I just put in
> four new Michelin X-Radial tires from Costco and just had the timing belt
> and radiator replaced.)
>
> The towing service charged me $250 for the car disposal. I took the car key
> with me along with the back license plate, but left the front license plate
> on since it was warped from the accident. Also I didn't have my title with
> me at that time so I didn't give it to them. They said they would file for
> a lien transfer.
>
> Now that I have time to think about it, was that an unwise decision to total
> the car? Before the accident, the car probably would have sold for about
> $2,000. Also, since I'm not sure if the towing service has done any
> paperwork yet, presumably the car is still under my name and I'm liable for
> any civil/criminal charges from parking, abandonment or operation violations
> for the car. I live in California and I filed a Notice of Release of
> Liability (REG 138) yesterday. But the DMV website said that until a
> transfer of title is filed, the car would still be under my name. Should I
> file for a salvage certificate as well? That would make the car not
> resellable anymore and force the towing service to salvage it for parts. Is
> there any other paperwork I should file with DMV?
>
> I'm curious as to what towing services typically do for totaled cars that
> are in not too bad shape? Do they try to repair them and then sell them
> off? or do they always just salvage the cars for parts?
>
> Thanks in advance for any advice.
>
> Regards,
> Dave
>
>

If its as minimally damaged as you say, the wrecker is going to fix it with
parts from his lot and sell it. If it isn't formally totaled, he won't even
have to go to a salvage title.

 

On 1/29/04 3:58 PM, in article
SlfSb.19371$aA.1532@newssvr25.news.prodigy.com, "Dave Hau"
<nospam_dave_nospam_123@nospam_netscape_nospam.net _nospam> wrote:

> Several weeks ago I had an accident causing the front of my '91 accord to be
> slight to moderately warped, with the bumper and front lights damaged. It
> was Friday night, I was on the highway, and the car had more than 200k miles
> already. So I decided to just call a nearby towing service to dispose of
> the car. (The car was in decent shape before the accident. I just put in
> four new Michelin X-Radial tires from Costco and just had the timing belt
> and radiator replaced.)
>
> The towing service charged me $250 for the car disposal. I took the car key
> with me along with the back license plate, but left the front license plate
> on since it was warped from the accident. Also I didn't have my title with
> me at that time so I didn't give it to them. They said they would file for
> a lien transfer.
>
> Now that I have time to think about it, was that an unwise decision to total
> the car? Before the accident, the car probably would have sold for about
> $2,000. Also, since I'm not sure if the towing service has done any
> paperwork yet, presumably the car is still under my name and I'm liable for
> any civil/criminal charges from parking, abandonment or operation violations
> for the car. I live in California and I filed a Notice of Release of
> Liability (REG 138) yesterday. But the DMV website said that until a
> transfer of title is filed, the car would still be under my name. Should I
> file for a salvage certificate as well? That would make the car not
> resellable anymore and force the towing service to salvage it for parts. Is
> there any other paperwork I should file with DMV?
>
> I'm curious as to what towing services typically do for totaled cars that
> are in not too bad shape? Do they try to repair them and then sell them
> off? or do they always just salvage the cars for parts?
>
> Thanks in advance for any advice.
>
> Regards,
> Dave
>
>

If its as minimally damaged as you say, the wrecker is going to fix it with
parts from his lot and sell it. If it isn't formally totaled, he won't even
have to go to a salvage title.