TAMPA, Fla., March 31, 2025 -- FreeAdvice.com recently published a guide to driving a car after it was declared a total loss. The legality depends on where the owner wants to register the vehicle.
In some states, car owners can immediately continue driving a car after it is declared a total loss. In most states, however, the vehicle must be inspected and issued a rebuilt title before it can be legally driven.
In some states, car owners can immediately continue driving a car after it's declared a total loss, but not everywhere.
Total Loss - Definition
A vehicle is declared a total loss when it sustains damage with costs to repair that exceed the insurance company's threshold. For most insurance companies, that threshold is 75%.
If a vehicle with a value of $50,000 is damaged in a crash and the damage is estimated to cost more than $37,500, a company with a 75% loss threshold would declare the vehicle a total loss.
Vehicle Buy Back
When an insurance provider declares a vehicle a total loss, it offers the policyholder a settlement equal to the car's value.
Insurers will also offer a buy-back. Even a badly damaged vehicle has value. The insurance company will assess the value of the vehicle in its damaged condition and deduct that from the pre-damage value. If the owner chooses the buy-back option, they will retain ownership of the vehicle.
Legality of Driving a Totaled Car
Melanie Musson, a nationally recognized insurance expert with FreeAdvice.com, encourages drivers considering buying back a totaled vehicle to look into their state's requirements for driving such a vehicle. She urges drivers to "Know what's required before making a decision to buy back a vehicle."
Cars with salvage or rebuilt titles will need insurance. Securing an insurance policy can be challenging sometimes, but it shouldn't be impossible. Those facing pushback from their present insurer should look into other insurance providers.
Driving a Totaled Vehicle
Vehicles can be declared a total loss even when the damage is purely cosmetic. For example, a hailstorm can result in a total loss. However, a vehicle damaged by hail may be completely workable even if it doesn't look good.
Even some types of more extensive damage can be repaired, but in most cases, the repairs will need to be inspected.
Read FreeAdvice.com's entire report here: If my car is declared a total loss, can I still drive it?
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