Car totaled by hail. Keep or relinquish?

That is not now totalling a vehicle works. The insurance pays out the money and take the vehicle, hoping to make back some of that money by selling parts. When my 2017 Prius was totalled, I was given no option of keeping the vehicle.

 

A conventional body shop replaces bolt on pieces including hood, fenders, hatch sometimes doors and even seam sealed roof panels. Fillers only on unibody panels. Followed by a paint job.

PDR pops out the uniform hail dents without repaint. Higher skill but minimal parts equal much less cost.

 

Climate change is starting to be real......sike!

 

I had a totaled car from a collision a couple of years ago, and my son's car was totaled by hail last year. In both cases, insurance paid the value of the car, and we had the option to buy it back at a reduced value. My son did, I didn't.

Is this not what the OP is describing?

 

That would make more sense but I did not see buyback mentioned, just keeping the insurance money. I think I was not offered a buyback because it made little sense after my Prius was t-boned by a 4Runner/

 

Original post says, "They are offering me 7K plus, 1.4K salvage buyback." Not absolutely clear, but I interpret it as they are giving him $7000k for the value of the car and offering him the opportunity to buy it back for $1400.