First, to clarify, the dents aren't golf ball size. You don't really notice them until you look closely at the car. Second of all, the car was in great condition to this prior, has about 62k of miles and is completely paid off. I had every intention of driving this thing until it needs to be junked. This is strictly due to the frugal lifestyle that I choose to live.
I have never received any speeding tickets and have never filed an insurance claim in my entire life. I take those stupid driver safety courses every three years to get the extra discount. I'm imagining that I'm in the better category. So to clarify, are you saying I can get an estimate and file a claim and NOT have my car fixed but still keep the cash that Geico was going to give me? And by "totaling out", are you saying that Geico would determine that they owed me whatever the car was worth, or what it would cost to repair? So I could pay my $500 deductible, not have my car fixed, and still have Geico cut me a check for ~$11,000 minus salvage value? What the heck would the catch be then? My insurance rates would HAVE to go up, right?