When Is A Vehicle Considered Totaled?

When and whether a vehicle involved in a collision is considered “totaled” for first-party insurance purposes is an issue of great angst and confusion for most consumers.

We hear horror stories of older but functioning vehicles being “totaled” simply due to a bent frame or other seemingly minor or even hidden damage.

Even insurance professionals can get turned around navigating the maze of rules and regulations surrounding the act of “totaling” a vehicle under a policy. It needn’t be all that complicated.

This article will hopefully help take the guesswork out of when a vehicle is to be deemed a “totaled” or a “total loss” and the resulting responsibilities and ramifications applicable to a salvage title vehicle.

We must first be clear on a matter of great importance: when and whether a vehicle involved in a collision is considered “totaled” for first-party insurance claim purposes and when and whether a vehicle is considered “salvage” such that it requires a salvage title brand by a state’s motor vehicle agency.