Is My Car Totaled? An Informative Guide

An accident is a stressful, harrowing, and terrifying experience every time it happens. Whether it’s a moderate fender bender, a collision when your vehicle was parked, or a major crash, one of the biggest concerns once your nerves have settled is whether your vehicle is all right. Will you need dent repair? Is it worth saving? 

It’s never a good feeling to find out your car, truck, or SUV is totaled, but the waiting can often make matters worse. However, there are a few ways to accurately guess the diagnosis. If you don’t want to ask yourself, “Is my car totaled?” after an accident, this guide is here to help. Read on to learn how to determine if your car is totaled. 

What Makes a Car Totaled? 

Say you’ve been in an accident. Your car’s current value is around $5,000. If the cost to repair the vehicle is less than that number, assuming you have auto insurance with collision coverage, you’ll receive a check for the repairs. If the cost of repair is more than your vehicle’s value, then your insurance company will likely claim the vehicle totaled. 

It’s important to research your insurance policy to see if there’s any difference in its definition of totaled. Some states and insurance companies will use a percentage threshold to claim your car is totaled (for example, if the repairs cost 80% of the vehicle’s book value). They may also claim the car is totaled if it’s unsafe to drive and unfit for the road, even if it were fixed.  

How to Determine if My Car is Totaled 

• If your vehicle sustained excessive damage to the front end, there’s a strong likelihood your vehicle will be considered totaled due to the fact that most of the crucial components are housed there. 

• Damage to your frame is another incredibly expensive and difficult-to-repair part of your vehicle and will likely result in a totaled diagnosis. 

• Heavy leaks from the brakes, coolant, transmission, or any other part under the hood may not necessarily mean your vehicle is totaled, but you may want to plan for the news that it’s totaled. 

• When the engine won’t start after a collision, it’s never a good sign. Engines are (naturally) some of the most expensive components to a vehicle, and if yours is damaged, your insurance company will likely claim the vehicle is totaled. 

• While there is a chance your vehicle isn’t totaled despite any of the examples above, there’s one (almost) surefire way to tell if your vehicle will be considered totaled: fire damage.  

Top 3 FAQs About Totaled Vehicles 

Is My Car Totaled? 

If the cost of repairs exceeds (or in some cases comes close to) the current value of your vehicle, or if it would be deemed unsafe to drive after repairs, your insurance company will likely consider it totaled.  

How Much Will Insurance Pay for My Totaled Car? 

If the car is claimed totaled, the insurance company will send you a check for your car’s pre-accident value.  

What Happens When Your Car is Totaled but Still Drivable? 

If your vehicle could be repaired, but your insurance company has deemed it totaled, it is, in fact, totaled. You can either sell it to the insurance company for your payout, or choose to keep it and be given a salvaged title. This increases the difficulty of insuring the vehicle, trading it in, or selling it, so choose carefully. 

Trust McCarthy Collision Centers 

If you’ve been in an accident or need repairs to your vehicle, bring it to one of our McCarthy Collision Center locations for fast, easy, and affordable service. From oil changes to insurance claim assistance, we work with you to reduce stress when you need your vehicle repaired. Contact us today for more information or to get your vehicle back into road-ready shape. 

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