Purchasing salvage at both…
Purchasing salvage at both copart and IAAI can be a challenge to many. Insurance companies only have commercial shops available for the repairs of the insured vehicles they are obligated to repair or replace. Many cars are deemed a total loss because of availability of parts, or because of unknown additional repairs to get the vehicle fully repaired. The Rivian truck referenced in the article, was probably totaled not because of the cost of the sunroof and the roof,, but because of the unknown on how to dry out the interior and restore the vehicle to pre loss condition. An owner will not tolerate a musty smell after their $80,000 vehicle is repaired. If I purchased that vehicle for 20,000 as is, I would restore the damage as described for the roof and the window, I would dry up the water as well as possible and let a few days in the hot sun dry out the rest. There are many cars that I have purchased as salvage that I have enjoyed better than 50% savings on the vehicle. But if an insurance company repaired that Rivian, there would be supplements to restore the wet interior. A bit of mold on some seats can easily become $10,000 repair for new seats. Pull up the carpet and find moisture in the sound deadening padding below the carpet can cause another $10,000 round of repairs. The moisture inside the cabin could possibly be blamed on a wire corroding. I have never had wiring issues for the vehicle that was exposed to moisture. But with a grumpy customer who believes the insurance checkbook should be limitless I can understand why many insurance companies find the easiest solution is to total loss the vehicle at market value and sell it to a rebuilder who is Happy purchasing it as is and the rebuilders standards won't be a limitless expense into the future. When the insurance decides to total loss most vehicles they realize their net cost for that total loss after the salvage sale is usually going to be 2/3 to 3/4 of the vehicles value. Therefore if a $80,000 rivian is total lossed, they would sell that for 20 to 30k because that salvage is desired, and after sale of salvage the insurance loss would be 60k or less. Much better than a 20K body repair, 10K for musty seats, 10K for musty carpet and headliner, and the insurance being blamed for any future electrical issue. Further if the sunroof glass is not available on the parts Network for 6 months on a nationwide backorder, that's an additional reason for insurance company to total. Therefore there are many reasons there are very nice salvage pieces available at the insurance pools.