That means the cost associated with repairing the car is about 75 percent of the car's value. If you find yourself on the wrong end of a totaled car, most of us believe that insurance would send a check for what that car is worth. "And if you don't know about it, you are kind of stranded. FOX 2: "Why would the insurance company tell you about this? In many instances, pictures of the totaled car along with the report, will be all he needs to do his work.