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Take the money they offer you, and insist on keeping the car.

Can't do it. They are demanding the title before sending the payout.

I'm looking at vehicles on autotrader.com. I think I can find a nice replacement.

Of course I am grieving for that Pontiac. Just like when people lose their pets. A good, reliable piece of Detroit Iron is a friend and a loved one.

They are demanding the title before sending the payout.

Sure sign that they have the car sold to a dealer or body shop. Demand back. Be mean. It looks horrible, but there's not a heck of a lot wrong with that car!

The lucky dealer already has some doors on order at the junkyard!

[Take the money they offer you, and insist on keeping the car.
Can't do it. They are demanding the title before sending the payout.]

Check the laws in your state. I believe in Texas they have to payout the policy and let you do what you want with the car. It has already been certified as totaled so you will not be able to sell it to anyone legally without disclosing that (unless you disclose to someone who plans on taking it to Mexico to sell). The only case where I have heard that the insurance company insists on keeping the car is when they payout the value of the automobile in instead of the damage amount. In this case the vehicle may be worth $5,000 and the cost of repair may be $4,800 and they are offering you the full $5,000. If this is the case, then demand they only pay out the cost of repair and keep the car. Otherwise, check your policy. Statefarm does not do body work and they do not buy or sell customer cars. The only reason they would not want you to have the car is because they want some return on their money. Look also for this little known loophole; Demand that the value of the car is based on its worth to you and what you would have previously sold the car for if the money was right. In other words, regardless of what their blackbook value is, challenge the worth of the car that makes it a total loss. If it is not considered a total loss, then they will payout the damage estimate and let you keep it. It is likely a long shot, but them demanding that they keep the car does not seem right.

Or make them state that they are "buying" the wrecked car from you. Then tell them that you do not want to sell it to them. Then demand that they pay for the damages minus your deductible per the terms of the policy.

Let me know if it works. I have never tried it.