If you get in an accident or your vehicle is otherwise damaged extensively, beyond the ability or reasonable cost to repair it, it’s branded as a total loss car by your insurance agency — that is, if the damage is reported.
In the United States each year, nearly 6 million car accidents are reported. An estimated 10 million more collisions happen that go unclaimed through authorities and insurance agencies. Of those 16 million vehicle accidents, there’s an increasing number of totaled cars, but what happens to them? Well, there are people who pay cash for totaled cars, so read on to see how totaled cars are valued.
When a car is labeled as a total loss, it means it’s no longer roadworthy. It can’t be insured or registered for use on the road. In most cases, your car will end up in a scrapyard and disassembled. The parts that can be reused are then sold by the scrapyard. In a select few instances, a totalled car is bought to use for educational purposes or by someone who intends to rebuild the car.
If a vehicle is purchased by someone who wants to put it back into use, the totaled car will need to go through strenuous repairs and inspections. The time and money necessary to repair a totaled car can outweigh its value, which is why it was declared a total loss in the first place.
Once your car is totaled, by definition it isn't worth it to repair. Because of this, finding a buyer for your car can be difficult, and parting your car out takes way too much time for little benefit.
With CarBrain you can receive an online offer for your less than perfect car in just 90 seconds! We buy totaled cars for a fair market value every day and make it easy for you to sell your car AS-IS.
Insurance companies have the formula to determine when totaling a car. It varies from insurer to insurer, as well as from vehicle to vehicle. If you don’t know the formula your insurance company uses, there’s no cause for concern; that information it’s usually kept secret.
For most insurance companies, a total loss car has damage that equals approximately 70 to 75 percent of its resale value. A vehicle worth around $10,000 is typically a total loss when the cost of repairs is $7,000 to $7,500. It doesn’t have to be just physical damage either – the cost of a rental car and other factors come into play as well.
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That means your totalled car is worth about 25 to 30 percent of its undamaged resale value, right? Well, not always. A totaled car value can be much lower if the damage is extensive or it can be much higher… to the right person.
The actual value of your totaled car may be hard to determine. Newer vehicles can command a higher value because they are sought after. And, if time and rental costs are not factored into the equation, a total loss car could be worth more than you’d expect.
Especially when you drive a newer model, there’s a good chance you’re still making car payments. Don’t worry, it’s a situation many people encounter after an accident. Here’s what you do:
If you find yourself in a situation where you still owe money after your insurance claim is paid out, it’s called negative equity. You have options to deal with this: you can get a personal loan to pay it off, or, in some cases, you can roll your negative equity into your next car loan. If that’s the case for you, be sure to buy GAP insurance!
If your car is totaled (maybe because of a blown engine), you have a few options you can pursue.
First, you can settle on a price with your insurance company, receive a payout, and buy a different vehicle. Your hands are washed of your salvage car.
Or, if you want to keep your car – maybe it’s a sentimental reason or you can’t afford the penalties on your insurance premiums – you can forego the insurance claim altogether. You can pay for the repairs out of pocket, and keep your car. The downside is that you likely don’t have the cash on hand to pay for the repairs, especially because you’re likely still making car payments at the same time!
Hail damage can happen anywhere in the United States, but you’ll hear about it most in the areas with frequent extreme weather. We’re talking Hurricane Alley and Tornado Alley, where you could have a car totaled by hail damage every other year! But what should you do when you have a car totaled by hail damage? There’s always the option to keep driving it the way it is…after all, it’s just cosmetic damage, right? That means you have two options:
It’s worse when you aren’t at fault when your car is totaled. Whether it’s an accident or the weather, you’re left dealing with a mess that you couldn’t have avoided. So, what should you do with your car that you love?
Hail damage, extensive vandalism, or even an accident on an older car can all mean your car is totaled but still driveable. It might not look pretty at the time, and that’s no fun. But what options do you have?
There can be great reasons to go through a totaled car buy back. It might be a car that you love and don’t want to lose. Maybe your insurance company doesn’t want to fix it, but you think your junk car still has enough value to repair. Or perhaps you can get paid for your insurance claim and get back a car that’s still driveable.
At CarBrain.com, we want your total loss car! We’ll help you get the most value for your vehicle even if it can’t be repaired. Request a guaranteed quote from us. We’ll pick up your damaged car free of charge and put money in your pocket on the spot. It’s quick and easy. We’re your best solution to get the most from your totaled car.