Insurance says it can be repaired - thoughts?

Assuming the car has more than 100k miles under the 17c formula the diminished value claim damage would be zero. This is because there is mileage multiplier factor which is set at zero for cars over that number of miles. See for instance:

Diminished Value Claims in California – 5 Key Things to Know

 

Exactly! That's why I don't understand your insurance company's offer to fix it for much more than that. It was quite a while ago, but when one of our cars was totaled State Farm picked a value which was in the middle of the KBB range, but it was still within the KBB range. When we pointed out that their numbers were low they showed "comparable" cars, all with at least 40-50k more miles. This is I think more typical of how insurance companies operate. Yours is I think making some sort of data entry error, like they punched in 2016 instead of 2006.

 

there must be a misunderstanding on this or the insurance adjuster (or company) is a total idiot. I don't see any Prius with that mileage and year has a value of more than 10k. It's going to be totaled by the insurance company and they'll just give you a measly fair value of the car. Did you really get the$9,600 check from the insurance or it's just a quote for the repairs from the approved shop?

 

Congratulations, you got more than book value.
IMHO, I'd probably look for a reliable gas only (Honda or Toyota). Hybrids & BEV are way too expensive right now. Even with the higher gas prices we pay here in Ca.; it's very difficult to cost justify the price difference - much less the complexity added to maintenance and repair cost. The only reason I'm in my Prime was because of the Federal and State rebates, drove the cost of the car below the price of a new Corolla hybrid I was interested in, at the time. An uninsured motorist took-out my Prius C and it never handled properly after that - weird pops and squeaks. Didn't hold onto it long enough afterwords to find out if it ate tires for breakfast. The front suspension was bent enough to require a replacement of the electronic steering box, but not enough for the main engine carrier (lower frame) replacement. It came very close to being totaled. Within a grand or two. It was repaired at the 'dealership' body shop; not a questionable independent shop. There are some really good independent shops out there; I just didn't have the time or resources to go looking for one, at the time.

 

I think it can be repaired too

 

I am also surprised the car was not totaled. However, the insurance pays usually full replacement price including dealer fees and taxes. So, they could pay up to $9000 on a $7500 car. They do that by totaling the car and limiting their liability for additional repairs while they reduce their cost by selling the salvage car for $1000 at an auction. The cost stays at $8000. In this case, not only insurance pays $9k but they remain liable for an additional damage not identified yet plus no salvage sale. It is a big surprise how they conduct business.

 

I was out of breath READING that post lol

 

Wait, the car was driven unto the tow truck with the rear left wheel missing? I'm surprised it could be "reattached".

 

That's the nice thing about FWD; it just dragged it's sparking "a**" onto the tow trailer