That's exactly how it works. I went through this same thing about a year ago. I got rear ended and they totalled the car. I fought with them over the value of the car and got them to come up about $1500 on their offer. I asked about buying the car back and they told me it was $100. I kept the car and they settled for $100 less. I had to get a salvage title on the car since it had been totalled. I sold it to a guy I work with and he fixed it then sold it for a profit. He had to have the state inspect it after it was repaired to make sure it was road worthy again.