My car was paid off and totaled. ( not my fault ) my insurance company paid me what they appraised it at. Do I have to claim that as earned income?

[Opus 17]

Generally no.  You only owe if the payment was more than your cost basis.

For most people, your cost basis is the price you originally paid.  If you used the vehicle in business, then you claimed a deduction for depreciation, either separately as part of your vehicle cost, or as part of the standard mileage rate (between 18 and 22 cents per mile of the standard rate is depreciation, depending on the year.)  If your cost basis after subtracting depreciation is less than the payment, then the difference is capital gains income.