Buying car back from insurance company...

So my neighbor was paid out by Progressive after his 996 was declared totaled. He now wishes to buy back this damaged 996. He's in Florida and here's his problem and our questions. Progressive will not tell him what they intend to do with the car and will not entertain an offer from him. Apparently, everything is done a certain way here in Florida in a secret and scummy cesspool sort of way. So we have been able to find out that an auction/holding company now has the car and the car has been given a stock # by this auction/holding company. This auction company says it is waiting to hear from Progressive as to what to do with the car. Progressive tells us that the auction company automatically takes title of the car and it was sold to them. So those 2 things contradict themselves. Clearly we're getting the runaround. So calling back the auction company we inquire if or when this 996 will be put up for auction and how do we bid. Well, they can only verify that they have the car by using the stock # we were able to find. They claim that Progressive still owns the car and they are just holding it for now until word from Progressive. Progressive tells us that the car is with the auction/holding company and they automatically buy it and the title is transferred to them. So we again call the auction/holding company back and inquire how we are able to bid on the car assuming it goes to auction and assuming we are able to find out which auction. Other than telling us they have the car, everything is secret. We asked if the car would most likely be sold at auction? They can't say. We ask if it does go to auction, how do we find out when and where this auction is? They can't say. We ask if we do find out the auction details, how do we bid on the car? The answer is that the public can not purchase the cars at auction, they are closed to dealers. We ask can you give us a list of dealers who could bid and buy the car on our behalf? The answer is that they can not give us that and it would be illegal to do so. So you see our frustration. There's more to the story but these are the broad strokes. Anyone have any input or advice for us. Remember, we're in Florida, I believe this has something to do with this BS. Is it too much to think that Progressive should entertain an offer for the car by the previous owner and let him have first crack at it if a price can be agreed upon? Not this, nobody knows anything, and even if we knew, we can't tell you BS. Thanks.

It varies by company and by state. My wife's car was totaled and the insurance company automatically sold it to Copart. I had to send them the title and there was no option to buy the car back.

My bet is he waited to long before inquiring about a buy back and their process has already begun. Maybe talk to an attorney about laws specific to Florida.

When my 996 was hit they weren't sure if it would be repaired or totaled. I asked the Allstate adjuster if I would be able to buy it back if it was totaled and he said they don't do that.

I bought my totalled 996 from insurance company, and sold it to a friend who had it fixed. Great to see it back on the road!

I wish someone would write a book on how to properly handle a insurance company in these situations. I'd be first in line to purchase it!

Right from Progressives site. What happens to my vehicle? You have the option to retain your vehicle salvage or transfer the title to us once we pay your claim. If you transfer the vehicle, we dispose of your totaled car and comply with the appropriate laws or regulations. So I guess it depends on where he is at in the process.

Look up autobidmaster.com. They are a broker who can buy in most states on your behalf, then sell it to him.

Will the insurance companies even insure a car that has been totaled ? I've always been under the impression that this presents a whole other set of issues.

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motoo, thanks. It would be nice if Progressive would have just pointed this out to us in the first place when we called them. Although in their defense, i guess putting that in writing and publishing it constitutes informing.

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thank you, all suggestions appreciated...

For the few times I've been hit hard enough to disable the car, I always have it towed to my house, not a yard or repair shop. Possession of the car is powerful at negotiation time.

Until you sign and cash the check the title is in your name,, typically. Once you sign the check,, game over usually, especially on high end cars with high salvage value. Once you let the insurance company take control of the car as well,, as noted above do not let them take the car to their yard. If the title is branded it causes multiple issues,, my state brands based on the accident report if they dont get updated from insurance company.

might be worth checking with state insurance commission. Insurance companies dont like having to respond to Regulators over consumer complaints. Squeaky wheel gets the grease!! good luck

In my experience with Allstate (in CT), I had a car totaled and was able to "buy it back", but the processes happened simultaneously. If your buddy already took the check, the ship has sailed, it would seem. Yes, an insurance co will insure you with a salvage car you bought back from them....Allstate wouldn't reinstate collision coverage, of course, but liability and comprehensive they did...or would (it was quite a while back).

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Yup same here, My 67 VW Bus was totaled (Not) when my neighbor (late for work) came flying out of his driveway in reverse as I was shifting to 2nd. I inquired about a buy back during the first phone call as I just put a new motor in and had Porsche Alloys worth more than the buy back. Cut the front P-side clip off and found another at the junkyard, grafted it in and paint to match. You'd never know it was hit from the outside. Drove that van for another ten years!

Great feedback guys, thanks. I have gotten some answers since first posting. Seems that he should have brought up a buy back first thing, not negotiating the claim payout and then cashing the check and then mentioned buying it back. This is his fault and is pretty cut and dry. Turns out I did not quite understand some of the details of what my neighbor had already done at the time of posting. I have now had a lengthy conversation since. I was under the impression he brought up a buy back scenario initially and they flat out refused this option. This was not the case. Anyway, there is a path for him to bid for this car when it goes to auction. But he will just be another bidder with no advantage over anyone else bidding, whereas had he of approached this with Progressive from the start he would have had the option for first consideration to buy it back when his claim was first negotiated.

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At this point, I'd use my time and money to find another. There's no shortage of 996 for sale...Clean title/fresh start!

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CT here too. Everything is negotiable. Years ago I was able to keep the car with no branded title. They simply adjusted the "estimate" to the dollar amount we agreed upon after buy back and they cut me a check. And since we are telling stories, a very long time ago (high school, maybe) I had a cool VW Rabbit with a bunch of performance parts on it and newly rebuilt engine. I had been sideswiped by a guy turning into a gas station who was found at fault (another story for another time) and his insurance paid. I called them and asked if I could take a "few things" off the car before it went. They had no issue with the that. Two days later the salvage company picked up a very stock Rabbiton steel wheels and bald tires with no drive train or front seats. LOL

I had forgotten but I had a 78 corolla get lightly hit in the rear,, it was a commuter battle wagon so I didnt care, bought it for 750 bucks drove the hell out of it for 2 years and after accident for another year then sold it for 800 bucks.. I got a check from Allstate fo rteh difference between the totaled value and the salvage value. IIRC it was like 500 bucks.. Only car I've ever owned that I can say I really came out ahead on..