How do I find out if a car has been totaled?

You can go to NCIB's VINCHECK at https://www.nicb.org/cps/rde/xchg/nicb/hs.xsl/vincheck.html

It is a service provided to the public to assist in determining if a vehicle has been reported as stolen, but not recovered, or has been reported as a previously declared total loss vehicle by cooperating NICB members.