[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?

[rpoz-29]

He ended up taking the loss, and took the $7,200. I can't believe that they wouldn't get another estimate, but they didn't. A friend of mine used to work at a dealership, and now works for Mazda at a remanufacturing plant. He said the engine can be dropped out of the car in around an hour. I suggested he contact his state representative or someone in the local gov't. What Todd says makes sense, because they now hold the title and the car, and can do as they please. I told him to take salvage anyway and I would pay the $2,000 and sell it on racing junk, ebay, or fix it and fight with DMV at a later date. In the end, he got tired of the whole affair and let it go. He bought a 2010 Ford Fusion with a 4 cylinder and a 6 speed.