Total Loss

Total Loss


In Canadian auto insurance, a Total Loss (also called a “write-off”) occurs when an insurer determines that a damaged or stolen vehicle cannot be repaired economically. This typically happens if the estimated cost of repairs exceeds the vehicle’s actual cash value (ACV)—its pre-loss market value based on factors like age, make, model, mileage, condition, and local market data—often using a threshold of 70-100% of the ACV, depending on the province and insurer policy.

Many provinces, such as Ontario, Alberta, and British Columbia, apply the Total Loss Formula (TLF): Repair Costs + Salvage Value > ACV. If true, the vehicle is declared a total loss, and the insurer pays the policyholder the ACV (minus any deductible and adjusted for prior damage or depreciation), rather than repairing it.

The vehicle may then be sold for salvage parts, branded as salvaged (e.g., “Salvage” or “Rebuilt” status), and restricted from road use until repaired and reinspected.

This protects policyholders from paying more in repairs than the car is worth while allowing insurers to recover value through salvage sales. Provincial regulations vary, so thresholds and processes differ (e.g., stricter rules in Quebec under the SAAQ).

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