What To Pull From My R1S If Totaled (Hypothetical)

[KBabione]

I grew up with my grandparents reminding me that if I'm prepared for the worst it's less likely to happen and, if it does happen, I'll be better prepared. This thread was "inspired" by an earlier thread: Totaled R1T I love our QM R1S and put together the list below of things I'd like to remove in the hopefully unlikely event that someone hits me and Rosey is declared totaled by insurance.

Here are some questions with which I need help:

• If a vehicle is totaled by insurance, is there a limit to what you can remove? For example:
• Could I swap my beloved 20" Black wheels for used tires on cheap steel rims? I don't have a spare for our R1S and this could give me up to 4! If so, what is the least expensive option I could use, keeping in mind that it won't be driven (4 compact spares?)?
• Should I pull the Frunk Liner out? I know the Gen2 have a different style, but I imagine someone here might want one.
• What about the 2nd row head rests? Same as above.
• Wiper blades? Murphy's Law says that I would have replaced these the week before the accident.
• Hitch cover?

Thanks for any input. Here's my list (also attached as a Word document in case anyone wants to use it as a starter). I'm printing it and putting it in the center console bin so I have it in the car (and won't ever need it).

Frunk

• Frunk Divider
• Frunk Net
• Instacrates
• Cooler
• Tempo Temperature Logger
• Umbrellas
• Frunk Liner?

Inside Front

• Flashlight
• Camp Speaker
• Floor Console Divider
• Floor Mats
• Magsafe Phone Charger
• DriveCam SSD
• Contents of Center Bin
• Glasses in Driver Under Seat Bin
• Umbrella in Passenger Under Seat Bin

Inside 2nd Row

• Charging Cables in Seatback Pockets
• Blanket Between Seats
• Floor Mat
• Head Rests?

Inside 3rd Row

• Floor Mat
• Charging Cables in Armrest Bins

Rear

• Protective Rear Mat
• Tie Downs
• Rear Storage Lid
• Portable Charger
• Rear Storage Divider
• All Tools, Pucks, Jack, Gloves, Extension Cords

Exterior

• 20” Black Wheels and Tires?
• Wiper Blades?
• Towing Hitch Cover?

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[Mark_AZR1T]

If you're asking me, SAVE the PUCKS first......

 

[COdogman]

Definitely save the high voltage battery.

 

[cbrcanuck]

The passengers?

 

[Zoidz]

In my admittedly limited experience, and hearsay from others, you can't remove anything that is not "bolted down" or is a permanent piece of the vehicle. If something is missing, they can deduct it from the insurance payout. A friend of mine had a high end audio system he installed, and it became property of the insurance company. He was not allowed to even get access to the vehicle without somone watching to make sure he took only personal items out.

I don't know if this is procedure everywhere, but in my area, if it is undriveable and gets towed after an accident it usually goes into the towing company's secure impound area and you can't remove anything until they hear from the insurance company, or you pay the towing and storage fees at which time you have to move it out of their yard.

 

[Killer95Stang]

First question is, have you not owned a car before? If it came with the car when you bought it and then get full coverage, they essentially own it as is at the time it was insures if totalled. If you add modifications, then you might as well pull them and put the stock parts on, because you won't get paid for them unless you asked for extra coverage.

My wife (gf at the time) had a moderately modified Prelude SH when she decided to kiss the trailer hitch of the expedition in front of her. She had it towed to my house, where I traded out a lot of the modifications, including the stereo for the stock units. Also put the stock wheels and tires back on it. When the insurance sent the tow truck to pick up the totaled vehicle, it was complete and back to stock. The key was that it was complete.

I think if you start pulling random parts, you will have issues.

 

[Mandarin]

Make sure you are able to pull yourself out of the totaled rig 1st then realize you have pulled the most valuable thing (your life) out of there )

 

[KBabione]

Thanks for the replies...I've only had one car that was ever totaled by the insurance company - a 2006 Prius in 2019. Other than personal stuff in the vehicle (charging cables, etc.) there wasn't anything that I could use elsewhere. I'd replace my R1S with another R1S so there are "things" that could be used on another R1S. The "bolted" (or clipped) down guideline seems to make sense - If I can't just take it without a tool it stays.

Hopefully it never happens!

 

[Chewy734]

This is certainly up there in weird threads of RF… are you asking us what a chop shop would do? ?

 

[crashmtb]

If you're worried about salvaging all those parts, just buy the thing at auction with your insurance money.

 

[TollKeeper]

You can remove the wheels, and swap them for some Ram wheels.

They will have a final adjuster look at it, sometimes. My insurance company didnt. I removed the radio, the spare tire, floor mats, engine cover, cargo area cover, and a slew of other things, including draining the gas tank to BONE DRY!

When they total it out, for me at least, they pretty much didnt care, and I thought for sure they would have..

Hail damage on my Saab, totaled out, bought it back.
Week later engine went with a blown head gasket.
Called insurance back, told em I changed my mind, lets go ahead and let it go.
They cut a check for the difference, and a tow company picked it up the next day.

They never investigated further, even after I told them the tow company damaged the front clip.. They simply didnt care.

I have been with the same insurance company for 30 years now, so your results may be different.

3 months later I saw it for sale on Craigslist with a new engine, and still with a clean title.

 

[KBabione]

I guess I was looking to see what's mine versus what the insurance company buys when they total a vehicle. Is it likely that they'd come back to ask:

• Camp Speaker? "Oh - it never worked properly so I threw it away"
• Flashlight? "I lost it the first time I used it"
• Keyfob? "The carabiner pulled apart while it was on my beltloop and I lost it and my housekeys at the same time"
• etc.

I guess the 20" wheels was asking too much

 

[TollKeeper]

They wont care about the camp speaker or flashlight, thats an accessory.
They wont care about the FOB's, cards, or any of that. But it better have what you tell them on the front end. If you tell them it has 2 FOB's, then when it gets to the insurance lot, it better have 2 FOB's. I just tell them when they ask I only have 1 "key".

I took the wheels off my Saab, and installed wheels from a GMC with bald tires. They never asked.

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