There are six million car accidents in the US every year, with many of the unfortunate drivers involved ending up with totaled cars.
No one likes to think about the possibility of crashing their car and having it declared a total loss. But knowing what to do if it does happen can make the aftermath much easier.
Want to how to get rid of a totaled car? Keep reading to find out what your options are if your car is wrecked.
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Accept the Insurance Pay Out
The easiest option is often to accept whatever your insurance company is offering you for your wrecked vehicle. Depending on the laws in your state, they’ll either offer you a replacement car or a cash payment equivalent to your car’s current cash value. Remember, you can challenge your insurance company’s offer if you think it’s too low.
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Sell It
Wait, can I sell a wrecked car? Despite many people thinking that totaled cars are worthless, there are many operators who will pay you cash for your car, no matter how bad the car accident damage is. Here, your best bet is to search for companies who advertise with slogans such as we buy junk cars.
They’ll tend to give you more for your car than you’d get for wrecked car salvage at your local junkyard.
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Keep Driving It
A totaled car may still be drivable if the damage is more aesthetic than mechanical. In these cases, you may prefer to keep it and continue to use it, especially if you don’t know how to pay for car accident damage but need a car for work or family commitments. That said, if you do decide to keep driving a totaled vehicle, have a mechanic check it over to make sure it’s roadworthy.
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Pay to Repair It Yourself
Again, if your totaled car still holds value for you but your insurers won’t pay for repairs, you may consider paying to have it repaired yourself. When considering this option, be sure to weigh up factors such as how much longer you’ll be able to use it for, how much the repairs will cost, and how hard the parts are to come by.
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Keep the Car for Parts
One final option is to keep the car and use it for spare parts. This might be worth considering if the make and model are similar to those of another car you own or one you plan to buy in the future.
Know Your Options for Dealing With Totaled Cars
As this list shows, owners of totaled cars have a range of different possibilities to consider after a serious car crash.
Accepting the insurance pay-out is often the easiest option. But it’s worth weighing up whether you might be able to get more for your wrecked car than they’re offering by selling it. Or indeed, whether it’s still roadworthy enough to continue using for a few more years.
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