Can an at-fault driver's insurance company deem my car totaled if the amount they want to give me is significantly more than the cost of repairs? The cost of the repairs is less than 75 percent of the actual cash value they want to give me.

The percentage of value at which car insurance companies total vehicles varies. Some car insurance companies total a vehicle if damages are at or above 51 percent of pre-accident value, while others might total a vehicle at 80 percent. Often guidelines for the percentages are set by state insurance departments.

Aside from the cost of repairs, insurance companies also consider the cost of reimbursement expenses for a rental car and the salvage value of the vehicle. When a vehicle is declared a total loss, the insurer pays you the actual cash value of the vehicle, minus the deductible. The car is then auctioned off for salvage to the highest bidder and often chopped up for parts. The insurer keeps proceeds from the salvage auction.

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If you want to keep the car, alert the claims adjuster and insurance company. If you retain the car, the insurer must still pay you the actual cash value minus the deductible and salvage value. You'll then have to pay for the repairs yourself.

Once the car is sent to the salvage yard for auction, it's gone for good. State laws vary, but in most instances you can't attend the auction without a special salvage dealer or auto dealer license.

For more, see total warfare: what to do when your auto insurer totals your car.