How much do you love your car? While many people assume their vehicle will always be there and reliable for them, you never know when you will start experiencing troubles of your own. Over time, cars can develop all kinds of crazy problems, ranging from worn engine components to suspension issues that make your car noisy and difficult to drive. Fortunately, you can completely transform your car by doing what you can to go through and replace part by part. On this website, find out great information about how to update your vehicle each and every day, since you never know what you might need to update.
The procedure you follow after being in a car accident should be simple. You contact your insurance company to file a claim, then they can suggest some repair shops so you can take the car to the shop where the shop staff repairs the collision damage. So, after a minor or moderate collision, it can be a shock when the shop does not repair the damage and instead tells you the insurance company totaled the car or marked the car as unrepairable. There are reasons for this, but with the right actions, you can get your car repaired and back into your possession.
When Repair Costs Exceed the Value of the Car, the Car Is Totaled
Your car may run just fine, and the damage from the collision may seem like something that could be fixed for a reasonable price. So, when you find out that your car has been categorized as totaled, you may wonder what the heck the repair shop was charging. It's likely not the shop's fault. If the cost of the repairs exceeds the current value of your car pre-accident, then the car is deemed not worth fixing in the eyes of the insurance company. Of course, if the car runs well and just needs body work after the collision, you and the repair shop may still want to find a way to repair the car.
As Repairs Get More Expensive, This Risk Increases
Inflation has made everything go up in price, from car parts to mechanic pay. Unfortunately, the value of your car will still drop each year, although you may see a slowdown in that drop as the relative value of your car in the used market rises as well. The repairs your car needs after a collision may seem simple, but if the cost of parts and labor has gone up substantially, then a small repair could easily exceed the value of your car, especially if it's an older car. (Ever wonder why a lot of older cars seem to collect dents and other damage instead of being fixed? This is why. The owners don't want to total the car, so they either don't report the damage or don't go through with repairs if the car is still drivable.)
Salvage Is One Option
If you want to continue driving the same car, you can still get it repaired. But you'll have to go through a legal process to have the car made street-legal again. This process is known as salvage. While terms like "totaled" and "salvage" bring to mind cars in terrible condition, they're really legal terms referring to the value. Your insurance company will most likely need to take possession of the car after they pay out, but if you want to salvage the car, they can help you get a salvage certificate and work out repair arrangements (note: you may end up paying for the repairs since you've been paid for the car's remaining value already).
To learn more, contact an auto collision repair shop in your area.