When a Car Is a Total Loss in South Carolina
How South Carolina decides a car is a total loss, salvage title rules, and how to complain about a claim.
Short answer: A vehicle is a salvage vehicle (a "vehicle declared to be a total loss") when the cost to repair it, including parts and reasonable labor, equals or exceeds 75% of its fair market value (not applying to vehicles worth $2,000 or less or antique vehicles). S.C. Code § 56-19-480
| Total loss rules | A vehicle is a salvage vehicle (a "vehicle declared to be a total loss") when the cost to repair it, including parts and reasonable labor, equals or exceeds 75% of its fair market value (not applying to vehicles worth $2,000 or less or antique vehicles). When an insurer acquires a vehicle in settlement of a claim, or leaves it with the claimant after declaring it a total loss, the insurer must deliver the title to the Department of Motor Vehicles. Source: S.C. Code § 56-19-480 |
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| Complaints about an insurer | File a complaint with the SC Department of Insurance Office of Consumer Services online (doi.sc.gov/complaint, which links to the online Consumer Complaint Form) or with the PDF form. Phone 803-737-6180 or toll-free 1-800-768-3467; email consumers@doi.sc.gov. |
More South Carolina car insurance & vehicle laws
- Minimum Car Insurance in South Carolina
- Driving Without Insurance in South Carolina
- SR-22 Insurance in South Carolina
- Transferring a Car Title in South Carolina
- All South Carolina car insurance & vehicle laws rules
FAQ
When is a car a total loss in South Carolina?
A vehicle is a salvage vehicle (a "vehicle declared to be a total loss") when the cost to repair it, including parts and reasonable labor, equals or exceeds 75% of its fair market value (not applying to vehicles worth $2,000 or less or antique vehicles). When an insurer acquires a vehicle in settlement of a claim, or leaves it with the claimant after declaring it a total loss, the insurer must deliver the title to the Department of Motor Vehicles.
How do you file a complaint against a car insurance company in South Carolina?
File a complaint with the SC Department of Insurance Office of Consumer Services online (doi.sc.gov/complaint, which links to the online Consumer Complaint Form) or with the PDF form. Phone 803-737-6180 or toll-free 1-800-768-3467; email consumers@doi.sc.gov.
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.