Auto Insurance Claims: Rear ended in a no-fault state, ponitac vibe, insurance company

Question
At the end of July my wife was going to work and was rear ended by someone
while she was stopped at a red light.  The other person got all the tickets and
blame but that does not matter for the insurance company.  My wife was
driving are one and a half year old car.  The insurance company first had it
appraised for repairs.  The quote was over $7000.  After reading the quote I
noticed quite a few things where not on there.  The guy at the body shop said
they just add that later.  Now my probably with this is I don't want this car
back. We purchased it after looking and saving for a year.  We over paid so
that the loan was just at or below the vaule of the car.  Which is 15,000.  Now
we made a good purchase and the car retained its vaule.  That is now coming
to screw us over.  because the repairs are not high enought to total the car
out.  But when they get done with it the car well be worth half of the vaule.  
The car is a 2006 Ponitac Vibe.  So is they anything that I can do to convince
the insurance company to total it out?
Also the insurance company is telling us the are rates are going to go up
because we have a claim on are account.  Can they do that even though it is
not are fault.

Thanks

Answer
Hi Mathew,

The only tru no-fault state that I know of is Michigan. If you are not in Michigan Then it should not affect your rates.  If you are nt in Michigan your insurance company will get their money back from the other insurance company and your rates will not be affected.

The insurance company will only total the vehicle if the cost of the repairs is over 75% of the value of the car. So if the value of the car is 15000.00 then the repairs would have to be $11,250.00 before they would consider totaling it.  It is the choice of the insurance company wether to repair or total the car.

I hope this helps
Richard Hixenbaugh