[rpoz-29]

The engine on my son's '04 Mazda3 was hydrolocked in a storm last Thursday. His insurance company had it towed to a Mazda dealer where they said it had water in the engine. A new engine from Mazda is $7800 installed. According to VA law, because his car is less than 7 years old, AND the damage exceeds 90% of the actual cash value prior to the damage, it will become a "nonrepairable vehicle". That means if he takes salvage on the car, he can't put it on the road. His insurance company is required to tell DMV and they will void the title, and remove the tags. I could understand it had the car rolled over, or hit a tree, but not for mechanical problems. Any insurance experts out there?

[CamaroFS34]

I sent this thread to a friend of mine who works for an insurance company in Ohio. This is his response :

We'll typically total a vehicle when the cost to repair exceeds 80% or if the vehicle has an usually high salvage value. Calling this car a total isn't that unusual since the rest of it is probably good for parts. Granted its just an engine, but if the car was repaired and the vehicle history came out (that it had significant repairs performed due to water damage), it could be a red flag on the insurance company.

I'm not familiar with specifics on VA law, but in any other state I know of, any car that's totaled can be repaired, inspected by the state, and put back on the road with a rebuilt title, like my MR2, which had a rebuilt title in WI, GA, and OH.

Is this $7,800 figure coming from the guy, the dealership, or the insurance company? There has to be a suitable used motor somewhere that would come in at under 80-90% and keep the car repairable. Its too common of a vehicle for there not to be a motor out there.