Although you came out fine on the other end of your accident, your car did not. You then receive a phone call from your car insurance adjuster notifying you that your vehicle is a total loss and suggests ditching it at a local scrap yard. But what if you want to keep your totaled car? Is it possible? Is it legal? What are the benefits? Are there any disadvantages? These questions and more like them are all too common for those with a totaled vehicle on their hands.
If you are facing the same dilemma, and still unsure what to do with your totaled car, continue reading for some helpful information and advice.
There are Several Rules About Totaled Cars
When a car is involved in a collision that renders it incapable of driving safely, it will be towed at the scene of the accident. But if you really want to keep your vehicle and avoid paying impound fees later on, there is a chance you could stop the tow truck from retrieving your vehicle and call your own tow truck to have your vehicle hauled back to your home. Keep in mind that if you live in a public complex, it may be against the rules to have totaled or unkempt vehicles on the property, in which case, the management would have it towed away without your knowing. So, the real question you should be asking yourself is not, “Can I”, but rather, “Should I?”
The obligations and obstacles you are likely to encounter by keeping your totaled vehicle may not be worth whatever reason you have to hold onto it. And even though you might want to repair it, if the insurance company deems your vehicle a total loss, you cannot get a clean title for the vehicle, only a salvaged one.
Furthermore, it can be quite a challenge to get a DMV to approve any repairs you want to make on a total loss car, and even more difficult getting approval to re-brand the title as “rebuilt.” Even after getting your car repaired, the DMV will not allow you to legally operate it until it passes a rigorous inspection.
What is a Total Loss Vehicle?
A “total loss” describes a vehicle is so damaged, the cost of repair would exceed its current market value. For instance, a car that is worth $2,000 but costs $3,500 to repair is deemed a “total loss” by insurance company standards. So, it wouldn’t make sense to repair a vehicle if it’s totaled unless there were spectacular sentiment tied to it.
What You Can Do With a Totaled Car
If your car is totaled, and branded a total loss by your insurance company, it is best to scrap it for its metal and make some extra cash at the same time. Contact a local Indianapolis auto salvage yard to request an estimate from a reputable junk car buyer. Any motorized vehicle can also be sold to a junk car buyer, such as motorbikes, motorcycles, ATVs, mopeds, tractors, lawn mowers, construction equipment, watercrafts, boats, jet skis, farming equipment, trailers, and anything that ran on fuel. Many junk car buyers also accept automotive parts.
Are you ready to sell your wrecked car for cash on the spot? Contact us at 317-450-3721 to speak with an Indianapolis cash for junk cars buyer and get a free offer today. We serve all of Central Indiana with free junk car removal!
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