[Vwdiesel] Keeping a totaled vehicle in IL - appeal to list wisdom

[LBaird119 at aol.com]

  I can only speak for WA state law (well not representatively but you get 
the 
idea).  ;-)  Many insurance companies are fairly willing to let you "buy 
back" 
the car and even sometimes take some parts.  Others can be rather snotty 
about it.  Best you can do there is talk to them.  
  As far as your question about insured vs. liability only, visit the 
inspection 
department at the State Patrol, providing they do the inspections there.  
  A friend hit a guard rail with my Quattro a few years back.  His insurance 
covered it since he was driving.  They wanted to total it and give me $2500.
I'd just paid about $2800 for it knowing it needed a clutch, maybe a 
transmission, shocks, etc.  I got a good enough deal that a $100 alt, 
and a couple tie rod ends etc, didn't bother me.  I made that VERY clear 
to them.  They came back with nearly $5000 but still wanted to total it 
with only a bent fender, door, lower control arm and a couple hundred $$ 
worth of pulling the front end back.  I bought it back for about $800 I 
believe 
and did the work myself, what I could and the rest my favorite body shop 
did.  I had to sign over the title during this part.  Made me a bit nervous 
to not have title to the car I was working on!
  When done, I took the car to the SP inspection where the guys treat me 
like an old friend even though I've only met them a couple times.  We 
visited, 
he signed the paper then decided he'd better actually look the car over.  :)
I took the slip to the courthouse license dept, gave them some money, 
and they gave me a registration and a perfectly regular title came in the 
mail a few weeks later.  :)
  Just check with your Troopers office, licensing dept, insurance, favorite 
wrecking yard etc and see what you can come up with.  If there is indeed 
a "loophole" for non-collision insured vehicles, maybe even call a state 
rep and point that out and how the law is hurting honest people while there's 

still plenty of easy ways for criminals to get hold of a "legal" title.  Of 
course 
what I keep hearing from Scott, the government there may not care too 
much!
     Loren