If Your Airbags Deploy, Does It Mean Your Car Is Totaled?
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Getting into a particularly severe accident is a traumatic experience for any car owner. With that said, numerous car accident myths were going around and passed off as facts. One of the most notable ones is airbag deployment. Many folks believe or likely have been told that the vehicle is considered a total loss if the airbags deploy.
So if the airbags deploy, is the car totaled?
The short answer is not necessary. A deployed airbag after a collision doesn’t automatically imply that the car is a total loss or totaled. Although an accident that causes the airbags to deploy can indeed result in significant damage that renders the vehicle a total loss, this is not always the case.
For today’s post, we’ll dive deeper and answer the question: “if the airbags deploy, is the car totaled?” With this article, you’ll find more information to determine if your vehicle is a total loss after an accident and what to do if your airbags deploy.
When Does a Car With Deployed Airbags Considered Totaled?
Many people have a common notion that a car is totaled if the cost of repairs exceeds the vehicle’s value. This belief is somewhat accurate but is too simplistic. The term “total loss threshold” is the main determining factor if a car is totaled, and the threshold can vary by state. The states use either a simple percentage formula or total loss formula.
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Simple Percentage Threshold
Some states use a simple percentage threshold formula, which is precisely what it sounds like. In this formula, the percentage of your car’s actual cash value (ACV) must meet the total cost of repairs to be declared a total loss.
One important thing to note is that the cost of replacing the airbags is calculated with the total damage amount if they were deployed. For instance, New York has a total loss threshold of 75%. Therefore, if the ACV of your vehicle is $10,000 and you incur $7,500 or more in damages, your car is totaled. Meanwhile, if you live in Texas with a 100% loss threshold, your car is totaled if you incur $10,000 or more in damages.
Total Loss Formula
The total loss formula or TLF compares your car’s ACV to the total cost of repairs and the salvage value of your vehicle.
Therefore, if you live in a state that uses the total loss formula like Washington State, a vehicle with $10,000 ACV and $1,000 salvage value incurring $7,500 worth of damage would not be considered a total loss. This is because you’ll have to factor in the vehicle’s salvage value. Simply put, the total repair cost plus its estimated value as scrap (salvage value) must equal or exceed the car’s pre-accident value (or ACV).
In general, you’ll want to use TLF when calculating the actual cash value of your car before it’s considered totaled. The ACV may differ from the exact amount quoted by your insurance provider and may lead to a higher payout.
Ultimately, answering the question, “if the airbags deploy, is the car totaled” doesn’t depend on whether or not the airbags have been deployed. Instead, it’s everything to do whether the cost of repairs meets the loss threshold.
Is It Possible to Negotiate the Total Loss Value?
Yes, you can negotiate the total loss value of your vehicle with your insurance provider, but there are no guarantees. Negotiating the loss value of your car comes down to proving that it’s worth more than what was initially quoted. Some factors you can use to negotiate are:
- Car upgrades: If you have added several car upgrades, such as a premium sound system, remote starter, alloy wheels, etc., ensure your insurance provider knows about those upgrades.
- Maintenance: If you did a great job of maintaining your car, you could use it as a negotiating leverage with your insurance company. Keep a copy of your maintenance visits, oil changes, repair history, and more.
- Some other new stuff: Things like a new set of tires, a new anti-theft system, or a full tank of fuel can be used to increase the value of your vehicle during total loss determinations.
Again, there’s no guarantee that these factors will increase the value of your car, but it’s worth the try.
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Do I Need to Replace Deployed Airbags?
Once your vehicle’s airbags are deployed, they become useless since you can’t reuse them. In fact, it’s illegal to reuse or refurbish previously deployed airbags. Therefore, if your airbags were deployed during an accident and your car wasn’t declared a total loss, you’ll need to get a replacement. Once again, it’s worth noting that the cost of the airbag replacements will be included in the total cost of the repairs.
But does insurance cover airbag replacements? In most cases, insurance will cover the cost of replacing the airbags. However, where the coverage comes from depends on whether the driver is at fault. For instance, if the driver is at fault, insurance will cover the replacements only if they have collision coverage. Conversely, if the other driver is at fault, the other driver’s liability insurance will cover the cost of the accident, including the cost of replacing your airbags.
According to Consumer Affairs, the average cost of replacing a single deployed airbag ranges between $1,000 and $2,000, including parts and labor. However, the total cost will depend on what airbag you’re replacing and the make and model of your car.
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What To Do After the Airbags Deploy?
When the airbags deploy, there’s a good chance you’ve just had a severe accident with a disabling personal injury. In this case, you should first call 9-1-1 first and seek medical attention if necessary. Moreover, if the car engine doesn’t shut off, make sure to turn it off immediately to prevent fires from engine leaks. In some vehicles, the engine is automatically shut down once the airbag inflates.
Whatever happens, DO NOT drive a car with a deployed airbag until after a mechanic inspection and replacement of the airbag. We hope this answers your “if the airbags deploy, is the car totaled” question.
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