Is Your Car Totaled? Assess the Damage in 5 Simple Steps

Colliding with another car or an obstacle on the road can leave serious dents, bumps, or scrapes on the body of your vehicle. Sometimes, these damages are easy to repair, but other times, it may be more cost-effective to replace your vehicle entirely. If you encounter an accident that leaves your car totaled, assess the damage in these simple steps to get a replacement vehicle quickly and safely.

1. Check for Visible Damage

Once you make sure everyone is safe, start with a close visual inspection of the vehicle. Look for major dents, crushed panels, or warped frames.

Is the hood crumpled? Are any doors stuck shut or missing completely? If the damage makes it impossible to open, close, or properly secure your vehicle, it’s a sign the car’s structural integrity might be beyond repair.

2. Evaluate Airbags and Safety Features

Deployed airbags indicate severe impact damage, and they can be difficult to replace once initiated. After an accident, check if airbags have gone off and inspect other safety features like seatbelts and collision sensors. If multiple airbags deploy, the cost of replacing and repairing those systems, combined with bodywork expenses, might total your car’s value.

3. Estimate Repair Costs

Before considering your vehicle a total loss, create a rough estimate of repair costs. Repainting panels, fixing warped frames, or replacing multiple body parts often adds up quickly, so compare this amount to your car’s market value. If repairs exceed 70 percent of its current value, insurance adjusters might declare the vehicle totaled.

4. Check for Hidden Damage

It may be difficult to find all the damage immediately after an accident. For example, damage to the car’s unibody or chassis might stay hidden under seemingly minor scrapes or dents.

While you can’t see it all yourself, an experienced body shop can give a thorough assessment. If you’re unsure if you totaled your car, assess the damage with a specialist to determine the next step.

5. Contact Your Insurance Provider

Once you’ve assessed the damage, it’s time to share your findings and photographs with your insurance company. They’ll evaluate the extent of the damage and provide a detailed report. If they recommend a repair instead of labeling your car a total loss, trust the experts to guide you toward safe, affordable solutions.

Not every accident will result in a totaled car, so determine the severity of the damage and contact your insurance company for support. If your insurance specialists recommend simple repairs, schedule an auto accident repair appointment with our team at River North Collision Repair! After a quick service with our team, you’ll have a safe vehicle ready to drive with ease.