Ha! That's what Joe said . . . from space.

So if it's totaled, can't you just keep the car and fix it yourself for a few hundred bucks? Or is the car pretty much deemed undrivable to the state?

Generally if the insurance company totals the car because they now own it since it was written off as a "total loss" so they take it. I am assuming they either sell it for scrap or used parts depending on the condition.

In addition to the above - If a car is written off, you can typically buy it back for pretty cheap.

If you find yourself in this situation, just remember that the insurance company can't force you to do anything. They are just some third party, and if you don't like what they are offering, tell them to take a hike and sue the entity that's liable (the insured) in Small Claims court. At that point, the insured will moan loudly to the insurance company and ask them why in the heck they are having to mess with something like this given that they have paid for insurance. At that point, the insurance company is likely to get reasonable.

Now, if you accept the insurance company's payment in the case where a car is totalled, then in most cases they will require you to sign over the car's title. You can negotiate to buy the car back (now with a salvage title -- so you are buying it back for less than the insurance company's payment) and do the repairs with what is left over.

Anyway, meeting with an adjuster on Monday and have already gotten some bad vibes from the insurance company ("that's an old car you know . . . ."). I'll make sure that I give them my card with my Texas Bar Number. They should get the drift.

You probably know this, but you can request another adjuster if you don't like the first result. I had replacement vehicles already picked-out on Craigslist so I could be sure the real replacement value was clear.

I had to do this as well, and my car was still totaled.

I was rear ended sitting at a stop sign by a utility truck with a cherry picker. Heard the truck's motor come off idle, looked in rear view mirror, smash.

Took out left 1/4, both tail lights, finish panel and trunk.

Had to fight like hell to get a worthwhile payout, they wanted to value my car at something ridiculous, like $1500 (91, 140k on chassis, 1.8 swap, fresh paint).

Good luck man

Just as a point of reference for you guys:

Estimator came up with ~$3,150 and declared the car repairable.

Adjuster cut the check today no questions asked.

Car is in the shop getting fixed.

So, looks like NA values are starting to climb back.