It all depends on the damage and the value of the car.
I have a 95 Silverado I bought new that got clipped in the rear sitting in front of my house. It looked worse than it was so the appraiser desided to total it.
I almost let the wrecker pic it up too, But I just couldn't do it and paid the insurance co. 1700.00 for it. They gave me around 10K with tax and lic. fees. to replace it.
This was my Insurance as the hair ball that ran into didn't have any. They continue to insure it but it does have a salvage title.
Anyway, I fixed it myself for around 5K between the truck cost, parts and a body shop. and spent some on the SC of course
Sure glad I didn't let it go.
So it just depends on the damage and money IMO. An older car will be totaled with less damage, and the new ones will be fix with more damage and not even have a salvage title. If a newer car gets a salvage title you can bet it really had the damage.
