You’ve spoken to my greatest fear. My 2012 Scion xB is Cherry at 75,000 MI. It was a California car for 10 years, just had its first Maine winter. If some jerkwad Nails me, the insurance companies will total it and take it away for half its value or less. That’ll really piss me off. So, I drive safely, very safely!
The insurance companies pull even slicker stunts. Last year my car was damaged in an accident and the insurance company said it was totaled and offered me a small amount. The estimated repair cost was about $1000 more, but still less than having to (spend the time to find and) buy another comparable used car with low mileage.
I considered taking a lower payment and retain the title in order to get the car repaired at my expense.... until I found out that the repair shop (and any other repair shop that deals with the insurance company) would not repair such a car that had been declared "totaled" under threat of being blackballed by the insurance company.
I suspect that car was eventually repaired by someone and sold for a pretty profit.