Should I file claim on insurance for car hail damage?

I have a 2010 Ford Fusion worth about $2500. I have comp and collision insurance with $500 deductible, and the kicker, I owe 7k on the car still and no gap insurance.

The hail will most likely deem it a total loss, and since buying a home, I most likely will be considered too extended to get another loan.

I can't unfile a claim so before I call insurance I'm wondering if anyone can share some insights on what I can expect in my situation if I do, and since it's just dimples from hail, should I even file a claim?

Could I use this loophole to avoid paying the repair bills for my anual vehicle inspection?

I own a 1993 Ford Mustang, but in good condition and low miles for it's age. That makes it 25 years old.

I just took it in for anual inspection, and it has failed the smog test, and the repair cost for it to pass inspection is $1600 dollars.

The State is Virginia, and if you look at the DMV website youll see the wording is contradictory in some places, but I have actually contacted the DMV and they have confirmed what my mechanic told me:

Cars OLDER than 25 years are exempt from the smog test, meaning 26 years old or older, but it still has to be tested AT 25 years old. Remember that despite the confusion on the website, two DMV supervisors and my mechanic confirmed this for me.

However, in Virginia, you can pay $50 and receive antique license plates for a vehicle that is AT LEAST 25 years old, meaning my car qualifies for antique plates THIS year but is not excempt from the smog test until NEXT year.

In Virginia, antique plates exempts the vehicle from anual inspection, but only allows the vehicle to be driven in parades, to and from car shows, and, here's the kicker, "For occasional pleasure driving not more than 250 miles from your home."

You must still maintain insurance, but this program does not allow you to drive it as your daily driver.

But what if I went and got antique plates, exempting me from the inspection, thus saving me from paying $1600 dollars?

Is there any way the "not your daily driver" rule can be enforced?

Added (1). Unless cops pull over every single vehicle they see with antique plates, grill the driver about where they are going a d then debate whether or not it counts as "occasional" or a "pleasure drive," then I fail to see how this rule can be enforced.

I don't drive more tha 250 miles away very often at all, so could I get away with doing this and using it as my daily driver?

Is there a time limit on car recalls?

My 2009 ford fusion has been on recall for 2 years now I think. Takata air bag recall. Ford has been paying for me a rental car for 6 months so far. There's still no remedy. So what happens if it can't be fixed? What can happen if it gets to 2020 with no remedy?

Help me fix my 2008 Ford fusion cd player?

I have cds in my car cd player(yes, I still use cds). However, when I try to turn it on, it says no disc. I can't eject or anything. I would like for it to work. As I said, it is a 2008 For fusion. Does anyone have a clue how to fix this?

Is the 2011 Fusion SE a reliable car?

Looking to buy a used car. Ford isn't usually the brand I would start by looking at but it seems like everyone selling cars near me is like "here s a Toyota Camry with 200,000 miles for 5000 dollars." So I thought I would look outside of what I normally would. I saw a 2011 fusion SE with 115,000 miles (about 10,000 higher than it should be) for 5k. How reliable is a fusion on average? Is it worth taking a look?

Sell current lease car to buy a new car? Good idea?

So I live in CT and I wanted to know if this could be possible. I was told that if I wanted to I could sell my leased 2016 Ford Fusion energi to a spot like CarMax a couple of months before the lease was done and if they would offer a higher price then the remaining amount owed on my lease I could do that and pay off the lease and then keep the extra money as a down payment towards the purchase of another car?