When a Car Is a Total Loss in California
How California decides a car is a total loss, salvage title rules, and how to complain about a claim.
Short answer: If the owner receives an insurance settlement, the insurer must obtain the Salvage (or Non-Repairable Vehicle) Certificate within 10 days of the settlement; an owner who does not receive a settlement is responsible for getting it. California DMV, Total Loss Salvage & Non-Repairable Vehicles (Cal. Veh. Code §§ 431, 11515, 11515.2)
| Total loss rules | If the owner receives an insurance settlement, the insurer must obtain the Salvage (or Non-Repairable Vehicle) Certificate within 10 days of the settlement; an owner who does not receive a settlement is responsible for getting it. A Non-Repairable Vehicle Certificate applies to a vehicle declared only a source of parts or scrap, completely stripped, or a completely burned shell, and such a vehicle can never be titled or registered again. A salvage vehicle can be re-registered as a revived salvage vehicle under separate DMV procedures. |
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| Complaints about an insurer | File a complaint with the California Department of Insurance online through its consumer complaint portal (https://cdiapps.insurance.ca.gov/CP/login/); printable non-health complaint forms are also available, though the Department recommends the electronic forms. Consumer hotline: 1-800-927-4357 (1-800-927-HELP). |
More California car insurance & vehicle laws
- Minimum Car Insurance in California
- Driving Without Insurance in California
- SR-22 Insurance in California
- Transferring a Car Title in California
- All California car insurance & vehicle laws rules
FAQ
When is a car a total loss in California?
If the owner receives an insurance settlement, the insurer must obtain the Salvage (or Non-Repairable Vehicle) Certificate within 10 days of the settlement; an owner who does not receive a settlement is responsible for getting it. A Non-Repairable Vehicle Certificate applies to a vehicle declared only a source of parts or scrap, completely stripped, or a completely burned shell, and such a vehicle can never be titled or registered again. A salvage vehicle can be re-registered as a revived salvage vehicle under separate DMV procedures.
How do you file a complaint against a car insurance company in California?
File a complaint with the California Department of Insurance online through its consumer complaint portal (https://cdiapps.insurance.ca.gov/CP/login/); printable non-health complaint forms are also available, though the Department recommends the electronic forms. Consumer hotline: 1-800-927-4357 (1-800-927-HELP).
General legal information, not legal advice. Laws change and local rules can differ; check the linked official source or talk to a lawyer about your situation.