When is a Car Considered Totaled?

At Bayer Auto Group, we operate a fully-qualified Cadillac body shop, among many other popular car brands like Chevy, Ford, Dodge, and Jeep. One of the most common questions our service team gets from Stephenville drivers is, “When is a car considered totaled?” This is an unfortunate reality for many drivers who get into accidents or otherwise incur irreparable damage to their vehicle. In short, a car is considered totaled when the cost to repair it matches or exceeds its total value. The team at Bayer Auto Group has more information on when and how a car can be totaled in the guide below. Read on, and be sure to contact our Chevy repair shop if you have any questions!

Signs Your Car is Totaled 

If you’ve gotten into an accident that’s resulted in a lot of damage to your car, you might be wondering when exactly it’s considered totaled. If any of the following signs apply to your situation, then your car is most likely a total loss. Otherwise, you can schedule an appointment with our Jeep body repair shop and we’ll do everything we can to fix your ride up.

• As we discussed above, your car is considered totaled when it will be more expensive to repair it than to get a new car.
• If your vehicle is pouring fluids or has parts that are severely bent, making it difficult or even impossible to drive to a repair center, then the vehicle is considered a total loss.
• If your car is older than five years and its frame is significantly damaged, your insurance company may deem it a total loss and not cover the cost of repairs. 
• On a similar note, if your car is so old that even routine repairs (let alone significant ones) exceed its current value, it’s probably a better bet to replace it.
• The more miles on your odometer, the lower the value of your car. This means that if you get into an accident and your car needs significant repairs, it might be considered totaled if you have an extremely high number of miles.

What to Do if Your Car is Totaled in an Accident 

If you get into an accident and you suspect your car may be totaled, the first thing you should do is contact your insurance company to file a claim. From there, the insurance company will determine if the accident has rendered your car a total loss. If this is the case, they’ll provide you with payment for the car’s cash value at the time of the accident. When determining the current value of your car, the insurance company will take into account its age, mileage, and condition, among other factors. The deductible on your collision and comprehensive insurance coverage will be deducted from that amount. 

Turn to Bayer Auto Group for All Your Service Needs

If your car needs repairs and isn’t considered a total loss, you can schedule a service appointment right from our website! We’re conveniently located near Brownwood and Abilene. If you have any questions about the services we offer at our Cadillac body shop, don’t hesitate to contact our office! And if you’re looking to save on your next appointment, we offer service specials updated all the time.