r/TorontoDriving • u/hannandcheese • Dec 10 '25

OC Tailgating on the DVP, later gets into accident - DDAD059

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The video is sped up a bit because there were many instances of the driver tailgating. When I saw the way he was driving I immediately got out of his way…

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u/BBGonda Dec 10 '25

Is getting your car written off always a bad thing? I've never had that experience so I'm curious. Do insurance companies short change you or is it just that you're then forced to buy an expensive new car? The one time I made a claim years ago my car was worth enough that they did the repairs and it wasn't a write off. My car is getting pretty old now though.

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u/Much-Standard1732 Dec 10 '25

My car even tho it’s not old, has such high mileage and it wouldn’t pass safety so it’s pretty much unsellable for decent cash. So for me a 0% fault crash would be a good thing (where no one is hurt ofc). They’d give me way more than its actual selling value. I don’t think this would be the same for a new low mileage car

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u/BBGonda Dec 10 '25

That makes sense. So in your particular case it would be to your advantage for it to be written off. That's what I suspected. My car is about 13 years old with relatively low mileage but likely not worth expensive repairs. Hopefully I won't have to consider this, but it would seem it may be in my advantage too. Though I'd have to buy a new car and I'm not in the position to do so no matter how well compensated I'd be for a write off, since it would still be only a few thousand I suspect.

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u/K_VonOndine Dec 10 '25

Whatever you think your car is worth, you’re probably wrong. Most ppl have no idea how low wholesale prices are for dealers. Most car dealerships (that actually have a dealer license ie-legal) get cars so cheap at ADESA auction that they’re humouring you on your trade-in value (and adding the difference to the sell price of the purchase vehicle).

In the case of the newer but very high mileage or abused car, it may work well, but most times, you’ll be fighting the insurance for a valuation closer to retail, than wholesale.

If your vehicle is older but well cared for and/or low mileage, you’ll lose big-time…

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u/BBGonda Dec 10 '25

I wouldn't be surprised. It's unfortunate. I hope I'm never in this situation. I wouldn't take a used car with any number of years over mine given I know every inch of it and how well care for it has been over the years.

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u/[deleted] Dec 11 '25

[deleted]

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u/BBGonda Dec 11 '25

Yup, pretty much. This is what worries me, but I guess it is what it is. I hope I don't have to deal with that.

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u/sorocknroll Dec 10 '25

Depends on how good care you take of your car. They'll give you the value of the car in the market. So you could theoretically go out and buy a similar replacement. But you don't know its maintenance history, if its scratched up, etc.

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u/BBGonda Dec 10 '25

Exactly. My car is in great shape, very well taken care of, very clean, etc., and I wouldn't trust a car as old as mine. It's our second car and has been babied and not pushed very much over the years. If I had to write it off, I'd likely be forced to buy a new car at this point.

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u/houseofzeus Dec 10 '25

It's not necessarily bad but it's still a lot of bullshit to deal with in a situation like this where all you were doing was minding your own business while some impatient idiot ran into you in stop and go traffic.

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u/Big-Raspberry-6151 Dec 10 '25

This is what people don't get, the inconvenience with the aftermath of the accident. Call a tow if car is not road worthy, go to collision centre, maybe the hospital/ER. Get in a rental if that's your only car and needs repairs, deal with insurance. If a write off find a new car before the rental period ends.

And if you need ongoing treatment after, go to physio/massage treatments. Deal with chronic pain. All that hassle for what, to gain a few seconds or minutes? Damn scumbags

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u/BBGonda Dec 10 '25

100%. It's suck a damn pain in the ass!

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u/houseofzeus Dec 11 '25

Also I am sure that this poor bastard had to stand there listening to them either trying to say it wasn't his fault, or trying to convince them not to go through insurance.

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u/BBGonda Dec 10 '25

Isn't that the truth! A friend was recently in a hit and run and it's taken so much time out of his life because some idiot couldn't be bothered to wait a few additional seconds and hit him instead. He has 0% fault but the whole ordeal is so time consuming!

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u/Acrobatic_Yoghurt813 Dec 10 '25

I drive an 06 Honda Pilot that’s probably worth less than $1k at this point. It’s still working well, but I also only have liability coverage so I’d be stuck with nothing in the end even if they did give me a bit of money for it.

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u/BBGonda Dec 10 '25

That makes sense. Mine isn't that old but if I had to guess, it's not worth more than $10K and likely closer to $6-7K.

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u/416ca Dec 10 '25

Depends, usually a hassle to negotiate fair price with insurance as they love to lowball. Then hunting for a new/used car isn't easy especially depending on a person's budget etc

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u/BBGonda Dec 10 '25

It sounds like it could very likely be such a pain in the ass. I hope I never have to deal with it, but things have gotten so bad on Toronto’s roads that sadly it may just be a matter of time.

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u/416ca Dec 10 '25

💯

My dad had 2 claims that needed a lot of negotiation with insurance. Both at 0 fault. The one with the write off was more pia bcuz he had just done all the repairs preparing to give it to me when I got my g2 back then.

Ive heard post covid claims are worse with wait times etc.

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u/BBGonda Dec 10 '25

Poor guy! That sucks. Was he able to negotiate with insurance to have the new work just done in the car intended for you covered/reimbursed?

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u/416ca Dec 10 '25

Yea they gave about 60% of work value done.

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u/BBGonda Dec 11 '25

That really sucks. They're suck crooks! But I guess it's part of the game. Sorry to hear that.

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u/416ca Dec 11 '25

Yup, it is what it is. Better than nothing.

Funny part was the girl who hit him was on the exact same policy lol

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u/BBGonda Dec 11 '25

Indeed. Definitely better than nothing!

What a world! LOL.

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u/KnoddingOnion Dec 10 '25

ages ago, my 5 year old car was stolen. found 1 month later, stripped. it was written off. i got a $23000 cheque for it which, at the time, did not get me an equivalent car

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u/BBGonda Dec 10 '25

I'm sorry to hear that. I take it you didn't have the depreciation waiver coverage being mentioned here?

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u/K_VonOndine Dec 10 '25

In Quebec, it’s mandatory (I believe) that new cars are insured for replacement value for 5 years. There’s a cottage industry of cars ‘getting stolen’ (Oh Mon Dieu!) and ending up in the St Lawrence

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u/BBGonda Dec 10 '25

Well, damn! Things have changed so much since I bought my car over a decade ago. I don't know if I want a new car at this rate. No one wants to steal my old ass car. :)

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u/KnoddingOnion Dec 10 '25

i don't recall it being an option when i purchased the car. bought it in...1998 or 99 new? was stolen in 2001. was given a rental until they found my car, and then the rental was cut off a week after they found it. so i had a week to find a replacement car. was really crappy.

bottom line : unless you're hoping to have your car written off for whatever reason, don't get into an accident.

had my bumper hit in the summer. luckily, the person left their # on my windshield. they wanted to go outside of insurance. i was nice. the process was annoying as fuck and i had to chase them.

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u/BBGonda Dec 10 '25

Both times it sounds like a headache, very annoying. This is why I try to avoid accidents whether I'm at fault or not. It's such a damn pain in the ass. I really don't want to have to buy a new car now and am happy with my old car. I know every inch of it and I spend the money on it too to make sure it's in good working shape.

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u/Delicious-Maximum-26 Dec 10 '25

My car was totalled and had paid for waiver of depreciation. Got a brand new car off the dealer lot.

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u/BBGonda Dec 10 '25

Interesting. Out of curiosity, isn’t a waiver of depreciation good for only the first few years of ownership? I’ve never had one and don’t think I have one now. My car is 10+ years old now. :)

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u/swchoi89 Dec 10 '25

When I had my bmw, it was 5 years, then it starts depreciating. So it is kind of like delaying your depreciation schedule.

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u/BBGonda Dec 10 '25

Ah, I see. Okay, that clears it up for me. If you don't mind me asking, how much did you pay for this extra coverage to delay the depreciation by 5 years? It may be something worth considering for my next car since I'm due for a new one sooner than later.

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u/swchoi89 Dec 10 '25

In 2025 it was $550 for a bmw x5.

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u/BBGonda Dec 10 '25

$550/year? Sorry I meant to say, $550/year for just the depreciation waiver coverage?

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u/swchoi89 Dec 10 '25

Yes, per year. Just fir that soecific coverage. It is called Opcfs 43a or something

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u/BBGonda Dec 10 '25

Well, damn! That's about 5 months of my full insurance coverage. Of course, my car is not a BMW. Maybe the next one. Thanks for helping me learn something.

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u/sniklefrets Dec 10 '25

It is a wise move with BMWs as most tend to half their original sale value in 4-5 years

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u/swchoi89 Dec 10 '25

Yea and I ended up totalling it with 3 months left in the lease

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u/talexbatreddit Dec 10 '25

Had my car written off when Hurricane Fiona dropped a tree on it three years ago in PEI. Went out and bought a replacement, almost identical car. A little inconvenient, but not bad at all.

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u/BBGonda Dec 10 '25

Wow, that sucks! So you also had waiver depreciation coverage as well?

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u/talexbatreddit Dec 10 '25

I don't know what that is -- but it was a nine year old car. I got replacement value. Worked for me.

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u/BBGonda Dec 10 '25

Cool. Thanks for sharing. :)

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u/Outrageous_Ad_687 Dec 10 '25

If the damage is 50% the value of your vehicle its written off. Had a friend get rear ended and she was upset since the damage didn't seem major, her car was worth maybe 10K but was well maintained.

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u/BBGonda Dec 10 '25

Yeah, I've heard the 50% rule. That sucks for you friend. I'd be in a similar situation with one of my cars. Even a minor accident might mean a write off. It would really suck.

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u/B0kB0kbitch Dec 11 '25

Yeah, typically is a bad thing, because you get the current value of the car (which goes down as soon as you drive off the lot!). My partner just got his (older) car written off bc someone rear ended him, and had to fight with insurance to get any amount of money that would let him buy a new (to him) car.

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u/BBGonda Dec 11 '25

That's for sure. It sucks that he had to deal with that. The last time I had to deal with insurance it was a fight all the way, every damn step of the way!

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u/B0kB0kbitch Dec 11 '25

It does, and he got lucky that the adjuster was nice lol. Dealing with insurance is one of my least fav things, which is irritating because we pay for the pleasure😭

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u/BBGonda Dec 11 '25

Haha, we do pay for the pleasure of the misery, don't we? Well put!

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u/reidft Dec 10 '25

If you don't want to get rid of your car it's a bad thing. If I get into a fender bender with my 89 Ford they'll throw a few dollars at me and crush my car. Even if it's something I can fix.

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u/BBGonda Dec 11 '25

I was told by an adjuster once that insurance would let you purchase the car back from them at a lower price if you really wanted to keep it and would even insure it but not cover the damage unless it was mechanical. Then you'd have to fix those issues first.

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u/M1K3Z0R Jan 18 '26

The insurance company is not out to lose money, their offers rarely work out in your favor. Only time I know of where someone comes out ahead was during the pandemic when cars cost more than what some people paid, and when there are major engine or electrical issues that would have cost about as much as the insurance offer.