CTS-V totaled?

I agree with everything that @piening2150 said. Insurance companies always offer a low price at first. I know several people who have negotiated upward. Show comps for MANUAL TRANSMISSION vehicles. For what it is worth, I paid $36,500 for a pretty clean 2010 sedan with 60k miles in August of 2022.

Personally, if you like the car, I would buy it back from the insurance company and have a reputable shop fix it. I am not familiar with Massachusetts, but here in Michigan, a state licensed mechanical inspect the vehicle when complete and fill out the paperwork to change it from a SALVAGE title (which cannot be registered) to a REBUILT title (which can be insured and registered). Resale value will suffer. But if you want to keep DRIVING it, you know what you have. The damage looks easily repairable by a reputable shop. I would buy it for $10k and fix it...but I am DIY kind of guy and know people who have collision shops to do major repairs.

I agree with all of the advice above. Take pictures and video, Get your own attorney. Research current market values. Keep receipts.

Sounds like you want to keep this particular car.

I have not been through this process personally, only read about it a couple different places on the web, so it MUST be true.

As your wife was not at fault, the other driver's insurance carrier is on the hook to make you whole again, not your carrier. Your insurance carrier has attorneys. These attorneys are on your side. Your premiums pay for these attorneys.

It will be headache-inducing, but it is your carrier's duty to do as you wish with regard to this car. They should make sure the other company fixes your car to your satisfaction, and to compensate you for the lower future sale price by way of a diminished value settlement.

RocketSled said:

I don't think that's correct. They owe you "fair market value" unless you've paid extra for a "full replacement cost" rider on your policy (which not all insurance co.s even offer).

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I think you are confusing yourself with these terms. Fair market value IS what it should cost to replace with the same car, not a brand new one. The term used in the industry is Actual Cash Value. Your personal policy may have some type of replacement cost endorsement, but the at fault carrier will only pay you ACV. If you had such an endorsement, you would have to claim thru your own ins and then they would subrogate the difference for you. The only replacement policies I've seen only covered cars near brand new with low miles FWIW.

KBB was never super accurate to begin with and is even less so these days with the way the car market is. Fair market value is the same as ACV, which is what it would theoretically cost to buy another 2010 V with similar miles in the same area, plus tax. I can guarantee you the person who does the valuation wont look at NADA or KBB, they're going to look at cars for sale and cars sold, then modify it for mileage, features, condition etc. This is why you request the report to check for accuracy and look up your own comps. Depending on the state, you can invoke your right to an appraisal, and a neutral third party would look at both your valuations and decide what the number will be.

Also if your wife is in pain PLEASE go get checked out, and if there is any serious injuries requiring treatment, consider consulting an attorney.