Can I keep my car, even if it’s totaled?

Yes, you can “retain salvage” and keep the car. 

What this means is that you will (1) have to accept a lesser settlement offer based on the salvage value of the car – i.e., the owner is keeping the car and the carrier could have receive $500.00 or so for the salvage, so the carrier deducts the $500.00 or so from the actual cash value settlement; and (2) the carrier and/or you have an obligation to notify DMV that the car’s been salvaged which means that the pink slip on the car will say “salvaged title” (i.e., the car’s not worth a whole lot even if it is later fixed).