I know you can "buy them back", I once bought a "totalled" 1972 Volvo 145 from the ins co, they had it sitting at our body shop, didnt want it, was estimated to cost $1900 to repair (this was 1983)and was "worth" acc to books about $1500... so I asked if I could buy it..."sure , just pay us the wrecker bill, its yours", so $45 later I owned it... bought $300 worth of used parts, fixed most of it myself (this is during my 2 mo "education" at the body shop), prepped it for paint , had our guy spray it , $800, had basically a new car for $1150....engine was in good shape , only had 85k on it , barely 'run in' for a Volvo...kept it two years, sold for $2000....