Here at CarBrain our mission is to bring transparency, ease and peace of mind for clients just like you. That’s why we put together this page and at all times feel free to call us at 866.443.8530 and talk about your specific case. We will be happy to help!
What makes a car considered totaled is when the cost of repairs exceed the value of the vehicle. Your insurance company will have its own standards for what makes a car totaled, but the standard for when repairs cost too much generally fall between 50 and 100 percent of the car’s vehicle.
When your insurance declares your car totaled, it will typically buy it from you and cut you an insurance payout check for the pre-accident value of the vehicle, minus your deductible. The insurance company will then sell the car at auction.
If your car is totaled before you finish paying it off and you don’t have GAP insurance, you could be in a financial pickle. GAP insurance, also known as Guaranteed Asset Protection insurance, kicks in for precisely such situations. If you still owe money on your car when it is totaled, GAP insurance will pay out the remaining value of the vehicle.
No gap insurance? That means you have negative equity on your totaled car — and you’ll have to keep making payments on a vehicle you can no longer use. If you find yourself in this situation, it’s a good idea to get as much money as you can out of your totaled vehicle.
Various factors impact the value of your totaled vehicle. Your totaled car’s value depends on:
Year
Make
Model
Condition, etc.
Certain vehicles will be more highly valued than others. If your car’s damage is mostly to the body, you might still be able to get a good cash offer out of it.
However, that’s not always the case. For instance, if your totaled car has significant damage to the engine or transmission, its value may come down to its scrap metal value instead.
The best way to find out what your totaled car is currently worth is to get an offer with CarBrain.
Our salvage car value calculator uses advanced technology and takes into account many details specific to your total loss car. Usually, you can get a fair offer for your vehicle in under 90 seconds, and because we're confident in our prices, it's guaranteed!
If you want to get a second check for your total loss car, you can buy back the vehicle from your insurance company and start shopping around for quotes. In most states, you are allowed to retain a salvage vehicle and sell a salvage vehicle.
The first step towards keeping your totaled car is to contact your insurance company. Let them know that you want to keep the car. In most states, they will transfer the title over to you as a salvage title.
You will still be paid by your insurance company if you ask to keep the car after a wreck. In addition to subtracting your deductible from the check, the insurance company will also deduct how much they expected to profit from the vehicle if it sold at auction, which is typically between $300 and $500
Once you receive the check and the vehicle’s title from your insurance company, you can begin looking for places to sell your wrecked car.
How Can I Sell A Total Loss Car?And what places buy totaled cars? When you are getting quotes for the salvage value of your car, you generally want to figure out how to sell a salvage car for the best price possible. This typically involves getting quotes from junkyards who buy totaled cars and national car dealers like CarMax. Junkyards — When looking for places that buy junk cars near you, local junkyards are the common choice. They will accept vehicles in virtually any condition. They purchase them quickly, but they make their profit by buying low and reselling the usable parts. Dealerships — Any dealership that accepts cars “as is” will purchase your totaled car. However, dealerships usually won’t trade junk cars for cash. The money offered is likely credit to be applied to buying another vehicle from them. Additionally, they specialize in roadworthy cars, so a totaled car that can’t run is likely to get lowballed. Private Buyers — Private buyers aren’t restricted by pricing or any condition constraints. If your model is popular and in demand, someone will want it. Finding that person, however, can be a massive hassle; vetting serious candidates and haggling being chief amongst the most annoying portions of the process. Online Dealerships — Companies like CarMax and Carvana have taken advantage of the internet and made selling a car that’s been totaled online a possibility. Keep in mind, these places still specialize in cars that can be resold quickly. A totaled car isn’t their ideal purchase, so they won’t be paying top dollar for it. In all these situations though, you will likely get a low offer. If you still owe any money on your vehicle, your goal should be to sell it for as much as possible so you can pay off your remaining loan faster. CarBrain can offer you an instant fair market quote online in a matter of seconds. Our quotes are guaranteed for seven days, so you have time to think it over before completing the sale. Additionally, there are no fees whatsoever for using our service and no last-minute haggling or negotiations. |
Why Should I Sell My Totaled Car To CarBrain?CarBrain has been in the business of buying damaged cars since we first opened our doors in 2007. We’ve evaluated well over a million cars since then, helping stressed car owners nationwide. Our car evaluators are experts in their field. If you have a damaged or crashed car, we will buy it. CarBrain is a free service. There are no charges for evaluations and offers. If you sell a car with CarBrain, we cover the costs for pick up and towing. We don’t like the practice of having hidden fees, so we don’t have any. When you sell your car to CarBrain, we pay you, not the other way around. All CarBrain offers are guaranteed for seven days, so you have time to think it over. If you aren’t sure yet, you can find positive reviews of CarBrain all over the web, from Facebook to Google to the Better Business Bureau and more. Find out what our customers have to say about us — we’re confident you’ll have a great experience. |
CarBrain specializes in buying damaged cars, including yours! We can purchase vehicles with the following types of damage:
Non-running vehicles
Salvage cars
Rebuilt cars
Cars with blown engines
Vehicles with transmission problems
Cars with mechanical damage
Vehicles with frame or body damage
Wrecked cars
Total loss cars
Old cars
Animal-damaged cars
We help sellers like you dispose of unwanted clunkers and broken vehicles every day. Get an offer in 90 seconds and find out what your car is worth now!
CarBrain is the ideal “final home” for vehicles near the end of their road-life. Our top-tier customer service representatives make the entire process as easy as 1-2-3:
Get your free quote! Simply enter some basic information about your car on our website and you’ll receive a free and guaranteed quote within 90 seconds.
Towing is complementary, so you’ll never have to worry about hidden or additional fees taking away from the profits you take home.
Schedule your pickup within 24-48 hours! If you’re happy with your quote, you’ll be able to schedule your vehicle retrieval with one of our partners within your area. They’re trusted to come to you at a time that works best for you.
Complete your sale! After a quick inspection and transferring of your title, you’ll receive the amount you were quoted, no haggling or fuss. Your vehicle is taken off your hands and money is put in them!
Contact CarBrain today and sell your car quickly without leaving the comfort of your own home!
Hablamos español y te ayudaremos a vender tu carro de forma segura!
CarBrain analyzes many aspects of your car before making an offer for your vehicle. The car’s location, its pre-accident cash value, the extent of damage or mechanical and electrical problems, the current market demand for your vehicle and its parts, make, model, mileage and age all play a vital role in deciding the value of your car.
For example, there are cars, like an 18-year-old sedan that doesn’t start or run, won’t get the same offer as others, like a low-mileage two-year-old sports car with collision damage. Some vehicles fall in-between, like a high-mileage nine-year-old SUV with electrical problems.
There are no “book” values for damaged or scrap cars, but at CarBrain, we have over 30 years of experience in buying less-than-perfect vehicles. We strive to provide a fair offer to every customer.
To buy back your totaled vehicle, reach out to your insurance agent, and request to do so. In most states, you will receive the title for your vehicle with the appropriate branding — totaled cars are usually given a salvage title — as well as a check for the payment.
Your insurance agency will issue you a check for the pre-accident cash value of your vehicle minus your deductible and minus what they expected to make for your totaled car at auction. Once you have the check and title, you can sell it to another buyer.
CarBrain does not require vehicles to carry insurance in order to make an offer. If you do not have insurance and your vehicle was totaled, that just means you can skip a few steps and immediately begin getting an offer for your car.
CarBrain can only buy a car with negative equity if our offer exceeds or equals the amount remaining on the lien. For example, if you have $800 left on your lien and we offer $1,000 for your vehicle, we can make the sale.
However, if your vehicle is underwater — you owe more on it than the vehicle is worth — CarBrain cannot purchase the car. In that case, you may need to find alternative options to sell your totaled vehicle.
CarBrain works with a nationwide network of licensed junk car buyers and recyclers to pick up vehicles. All partners must meet a rigorous vetting process to begin working with CarBrain, to ensure that you receive a satisfactory experience when selling your vehicle. We are always expanding our partners to expand our services and speed up our pickup times.
Yes, CarBrain can buy a vehicle with a salvage title. As long as the title is certified and in your name, we can make an offer on it.
When the tow truck driver arrives to pick up the vehicle, you should sign the title in the appropriate spot to transfer ownership. Our associate buyers can help you figure out the right way to sign the title in your state. Once we receive the vehicle, we will complete the title transfer and send you a Bill of Sale by email to document that we have purchased the vehicle.