In Georgia, a car is considered “totaled” or a “total loss” if its actual cash value before the accident is less than the sum of the cost of repairs and the value of the car after the damage (the “salvage value”).
As an example, the insurance company determines that your car was worth $20,000 before the accident, the repairs will cost $10,000, and the salvage value is $15,000. The cost of the repairs and the salvage value total $25,000, you then subtract the actual cash value which leaves you with a final number of -$5,000. Because this final figure is negative, the insurer will declare the car a total loss. If the final figure wasn’t negative, the car won’t be deemed a total loss.
If you disagree with the actual cash value assigned to your car, you may be able to argue to have it changed, though you will need an attorney’s help.