My car was sent to the shop and now it’s totaled do I keep the check they sent for repairs?
So I sent my car and the insurance pictures, it’s Lyft by the way that is dealing with all this because their driver hit my car, anyways. They sent me a check for he repairs but then the body shop declared it a total loss, but I’m still making payments on the car, they sent me what the car is worth and the payout. Now what do I do with the first check they sent me?
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use the check to pay off what you owe. Even tho the car is totalled, you still need to keep paying it off
The check was sent to you, for the repairs - give it to the mechanic.
You use the money to pay off the loan on the car, so that you don't owe any more and don't have to make any more payments.
The BODY SHOP can't declare your car a "total loss". Only the insurance company can do that. Perhaps you should be talking to THEM!
Body shops have no authority to declare a car totaled. If they believe it should be totaled, the liable insurance company would have to agree. If that actually happens then the insurance company would likely simply send a check to the lien holder. As to the first check and how another payment would be handled. I suspect that you will have to turn that over to your lien holder but ask the insurance company. We here can only guess. The insurance company is the only one who knows for sure.
The auto shop doesn't declare it totaled, the insurance company does. You better talk to the insurance agent to get the REAL answer.
Hi so you pass it on to the credit company and payoff any difference either immediately with a bank loan or by monthly payments.
Nope, that's not how it works. That isn't a repair check, at least not a valid one.
Insurance companies don't pay anything to anyone until they complete their investigation, because they're not stupid. When a vehicle suffers heavy damage, they always wait until they know if it's a repair job or total loss before they even think of sending out a payment.
The body shop doesn't make the total loss decision. The repair / total decision is made by cold hard dollars, no exceptions. If the cost of repairs is more than __% of the vehicle's cash value (the number is blank because it varies by jurisdiction), it's a total loss. If the repairs cost less, it's a fix job. That isn't up to an insurance company or a repair shop to decide, it's actual legislation.
Cash it and have a big party. If there is anything left over, take driving lessons so you can avoid this in the future.
If the first check is for the totaled car:
You pay off the loan and any extra you use to get a different car. If the check is not big enough to pay off the loan you will have to pay that out of your pocket.
If not contact them and ask what should be done with the check and if they are going to modify their offer. I hope your insurance agent is helping you or a lawyer?