When a Car Is a Total Loss in Minnesota
How Minnesota decides a car is a total loss, salvage title rules, and how to complain about a claim.
Short answer: A "salvage vehicle" is one for which an insurer declared or paid a total loss, or one whose repair cost exceeds 80% of its value immediately before the damage. Minn. Stat. §168A.151, subd. 1; §168A.01, subds. 6a, 8a, 17b
| Total loss rules | A "salvage vehicle" is one for which an insurer declared or paid a total loss, or one whose repair cost exceeds 80% of its value immediately before the damage. When a Minnesota insurer acquires a vehicle by paying damages, it must immediately obtain a title branded "salvage" for a late-model vehicle (model year within the last five years) or high-value vehicle (actual cash value over $9,000 before damage), or "prior salvage" for other vehicles, and notify the department within ten days. Definitions: https://www.revisor.mn.gov/statutes/cite/168A.01 |
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More Minnesota car insurance & vehicle laws
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FAQ
When is a car a total loss in Minnesota?
A "salvage vehicle" is one for which an insurer declared or paid a total loss, or one whose repair cost exceeds 80% of its value immediately before the damage. When a Minnesota insurer acquires a vehicle by paying damages, it must immediately obtain a title branded "salvage" for a late-model vehicle (model year within the last five years) or high-value vehicle (actual cash value over $9,000 before damage), or "prior salvage" for other vehicles, and notify the department within ten days.
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.