I had to find another car in a hurry, because I was driving for Domino's at the time. Luckily, I had the means to do so, but a lot of people don't.
That happened to my Daughter with her 1995 Honda Civic. It was old, but it still ran. After the converter was taken the insurance company wrote it off as total loss. Good thing is, that her company provided her with a company car. (Which they should have done earlier!)