An auto damage adjuster from the company will have to do an estimate. Many people will get estimates from other body shops first, but the insurance company themselves Ouse the estimates their auto damage adjuster did. If the ADA estimates that the vehicle was a total loss from the accident, it means that the cost of repairs is more than what the monetary value of the vehicle is. Your vehicle will not be considered u201csalvagedu201d until it has been a total loss and has been bought back from the insurance company.