Does insurance pay off a totaled car?
Updated October 16, 2024, 2:46 AM EDT
Nearly 7 million car crashes occur in the U.S. each year. Some of those accidents are worse than others, leaving drivers with a totaled vehicle, according to data from the Department of Transportation.
Whether a car is considered totaled and how much car insurance will cover could depend on where you live and what type of policy you have. The guide below will cover everything you need to know if your car is totaled in an accident.
What will insurance pay for a totaled car?
A car is considered totaled when the cost of repair exceeds what the car is worth or the car is completely irreparable. Depending on who was at fault in the accident, your auto insurance or the other driver’s may cover the accident. A claims adjuster will determine how much the car is worth. Each state uses its own threshold for defining a car as totaled.
For example, Texas law considers a car to be repairable at up to 100% of the car’s value. Meanwhile, the threshold in Iowa is 50%, meaning a $10,000 car would be totaled if it needed $5,000 of repair work. Most states fall in the 70-80% category.
If your car is totaled and you’re responsible, your collision or comprehensive coverage should pay to replace it. Liability coverage is required in most states, whether you own your vehicle or not. If you’re leasing or financing a car, collision and comprehensive coverage are likely required as well.
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Collision coverage kicks in if your car is damaged or destroyed in a crash involving another vehicle, with comprehensive coverage protecting you against other accidents, like a tree falling on your car.
Without comprehensive and collision coverage, you could be paying to replace your totaled vehicle out of pocket.
How is the value of a totaled car decided by an insurance agency?
Insurers define the worth of your car as its “actual cash value.” This is the amount you’ll be paid for your totaled vehicle.
To determine your car’s actual cash value, the insurance company will consider its:
- Age
- Mileage and features
- Condition
- Resale value
- Price tag on similar cars in the area
What to do with your car when it is totaled
If your car is totaled, here are two of your best options for moving forward:
- Let your insurance company pay you
- Sell your car
1. Let your insurance company pay you
The easiest route to take after totaling your car is to accept your car insurance provider’s offer.
Your insurance company will either offer a comparable replacement vehicle or provide you with a check equal to the car’s actual cash value. You can compare their offer to estimates from Kelley Blue Book and J.D. Power and challenge their valuation if you think it’s too low.
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2. Sell your car
Alternatively, you can sell the car, or its parts, yourself.
When your insurance claim is approved, the insurance company takes ownership of your car, usually selling its parts or metal.
If you keep the car, its salvage value will be deducted from the payout. From there, you can:
- Sell the car’s spare parts
- Sell the car to a junk or salvage yard
- Pay to repair the car and sell it
Just note that repairing and reselling a totaled vehicle isn’t allowed in some states and can be costly, with some red tape like a salvage title and inspection requirements.
If your car gets totaled while you’re financing it, you still have to pay off the loan. Your insurer will pay the leasing company or auto loan provider first, with any remaining balance going to you.
When you owe more than the actual cash value, you’ll be responsible for paying the difference yourself. Gap insurance is designed to cover this difference and can be added to many policies.
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Bottom line
Liability insurance covers the other driver’s property damage and medical expenses if you’re at fault in an accident but it won’t help with yours.
With comprehensive and collision insurance, you get full coverage if your car is totaled in an accident. While not always required, these types of coverage can provide crucial protection that helps you replace your totaled vehicle.