[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?

[Todd]

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?

you might have already dealt with this but I just got back on from vacation... I asked a buddy who is a claims adjuster with a large ins co here in VB. As you probably already know, it is a valid VA law, newer than 7 years, valued over 7500, if its totaled over 90% it has a scrap only title in VA. He said that their company usually doesn't do that since it ruins the salvage value of the car (for the ins co). He figures that the ins co is betting on someone buying it since it only needs an engine and giving them a high salvage value. That is kind of a jerk move IMHO. He also suggested taking it somewhere (tow if you have to) to get another estimate that is under the 90% threshold if you really want to keep it.

Good luck
Todd