Last month, I got into a rollover accident. An opossum ran into the road, and I didn’t see it in time. I swerved to avoid it, lost control, and the car rolled off the road. Thankfully, no injuries, but my insurance won’t cover the damage. I need to know how much it will cost to fix the roof so I can get a new windshield. Safelite says I need to repair the roof first before they can replace the glass. The car is a 2004 Honda CR-V, and everything else works fine. The problem is, most shops say they only work on cars from 2010 or newer. Posting here and in other groups to get some advice.
Birch said:
[deleted]
Just some bondo, and you’ll be fine. 
If you don’t live in a place with cheap labor, that’s totaled.
Better option is to find a cheap CR-V with a blown motor or transmission and swap your parts over.
Can I please buy your tire cover?
Dude, it’s messed up.
And next time, don’t swerve! I love animals too, but it’s not worth risking lives to avoid hitting one.
Ainsley said:
Dude, it’s messed up.
And next time, don’t swerve! I love animals too, but it’s not worth risking lives to avoid hitting one.
It’s sadly part of human nature to avoid harming things on the road. It would take a mindset shift to change that.
It’s unfortunate insurance won’t cover it. I’ve always been told to brake instead of swerving when something’s in the way.
With this age of a CR-V, it’s not worth repairing. Better to find a similar year model for 2-3k.
@Zeke
What can I do with it if I don’t have collision coverage? This is my first at-fault accident.
Bevin said:
@Zeke
What can I do with it if I don’t have collision coverage? This is my first at-fault accident.
Consider selling it to a junkyard or parting out the engine and transmission yourself on marketplace. You could reclaim $800 or more selling high-value parts individually (like the OEM spare tire cover worth over $100). Expect to pay $2-5k for a new one, which is cheaper than professional repairs.
Bevin said:
@Zeke
What can I do with it if I don’t have collision coverage? This is my first at-fault accident.
This CR-V is likely totaled. The rollover compromised the frame’s integrity. If you lack collision coverage, I’d recommend selling it to a scrap yard. They typically tow for free and could offer around a hundred dollars if you hand over ownership. Its value is mainly in scrap and salvageable parts.
Sorry for your loss; I hope you’re okay.
Bevin said:
@Zeke
What can I do with it if I don’t have collision coverage? This is my first at-fault accident.
Call around for salvage quotes. Maybe you’ll get a couple of hundred bucks from it, but don’t be surprised if you just get free disposal. Considering it has 225k on the motor and transmission, it might be best to just buy a new motor. The only thing it’s got going for it is that it’s right there.
You could also start stripping it down for parts if you’re handy. There’s value in components like the head, compressor, alternator, and water pump.
Bevin said:
@Zeke
What can I do with it if I don’t have collision coverage? This is my first at-fault accident.
I sold my totaled car to a ‘cash for clunkers’ program and made a decent amount.
This is a perfect candidate to modify: chop the roof and make it a hot rod CR-V! /s
Luca said:
This is a perfect candidate to modify: chop the roof and make it a hot rod CR-V! /s
Or turn it into a rock crawler with an LS swap and a roll cage.
It’s completely wrecked.
You can try to sell it to a farmer for use on the farm. No insurance or safety required!
In the nicest way possible… How do you expect us to estimate repair costs?
The roof is smashed, and you want to know about a windshield replacement? Is this a joke?
If you want, scrap what you can but don’t expect the shell to be worth much.
What everyone is saying. It’s a 2004 model, you might make some money parting it out.
Next time, just hit the damn animal. I’ve seen my wife swerve for squirrels and we had a serious talk about it. You should only swerve for people.
@Ozzie
Or get the possum’s insurance info next time!