We may theoretically assume that the declaration of a total loss should end a car’s technical lifetime. To make it straight, a car declared as a total loss should be scrapped. However, this is not always the case. Cars declared as such do end up on the market.

That’s why you should visit the Crash Status service. You can verify a car for free using its VIN number and find out whether it has had any recorded damages. You can also check the estimated value of damage according to the insurer.

What is a total loss?
Total loss is a term used by insurance companies. Important note: there is no legal definition of the term “total loss”.
When does a total loss occur? When an insurance company, after inspecting the vehicle, concludes that its repair is not financially reasonable.

• If a driver has valid insurance and another driver (the perpetrator) damages their car in an accident, or while it is stationary at a car park, a total loss may be declared if the repair costs exceed 100% of the car’s value.

Total loss can be declared due to damage inflicted as a result of an accident, collision, hurricane, fire, vandalism, or flooding.

Is the declaration of a total loss an actual proof that the car is only good for scrap?
There are exceptions and they are quite common.
For example, consider an electric car. In the case of lateral impact, the traction battery may be damaged. Bodywork repair and the installation of a new battery would fully restore the car, but this is financially unfeasible. For instance, a two-year-old electric car may be worth 30,000 euros, while the battery replacement costs 25,000 euros.
Another example is a several-year-old premium car from Asia, whose front was damaged in an accident. The replacement of just two LED headlights could cost over 7,000 euros. When we add to that the cost of replacing the cruise control sensors, the collision avoidance system, the cooling radiator, the air conditioning radiator, the thermal front windshield (several thousand euros) and body parts, the cost of repair can reach a level that renders it pointless .

In most cases, the declaration of a total loss indeed implies that a car is only good for scrap. In the case of a car that is over 10 years old, just the cost of an airbag replacement and the repair of some other components may exceed its value. Sometimes, post-accident damage is so severe that restoring the vehicle is impossible, which also applies to cars that have been flooded (especially electric vehicles).

Why do total loss vehicles end up on sale?
A car that is not suitable for repair should end up at a Vehicle Dismantling Station.
But what about cars that can be repaired, even if this is deemed financially unreasonable by the insurer?
The car owner is entitled to repair the car, or to hand it over to the insurance company. In Western Europe and in the USA, there are special websites available only to business operators, such as service stations or dealerships. These websites can be used to purchase cars damaged as a result of accidents, floods, hurricanes, theft incidents, etc., often at very attractive prices.

The insurer has declared that the car’s repair is not financially reasonable. Why does an auto trader think otherwise?
The car’s insurer relies on professional automotive appraisers. These experts identify all of the damages the car sustained during the incident, e.g., an accident, and then calculate the cost of restoring the car to its fully usable and safe condition.
A dishonest trader, however, may not restore the car to its fully usable and safe condition. Instead, they cover up the damages, with the intention of selling the car quickly.

How can I check if a car has been declared as a total loss?
First, check the car for free using its VIN number on our website. All you need is the VIN number. Enter it into our search engine. You’ll quickly find out whether any damages have been recorded for the vehicle. If they have, it might be a sign that the car was involved in an accident, damaged by flooding, or even declared as a total loss.
Purchase a premium report to find out about the details of such damage and its estimated value, as well as the country where it was reported.
Crash Status was created to assist all buyers looking for a second-hand car.