Is a car considered totaled if the airbags deploy?
When the airbags in your car deploy it doesn't always mean that your is beyond repair. The cash value of the car and estimated repair amounts will determine if a vehicle with deployed airbags is totaled.
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Daniel Walker
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Daniel Walker graduated with a BS in Administrative Management in 2005 and has run his family’s insurance agency, FCI Agency, for over 15 years (BBB A+). He is licensed as an insurance agent to write property and casualty insurance, including home, life, auto, umbrella, and dwelling fire insurance. He’s also been featured on sites like Reviews.com and Safeco. To ensure our content is accura...
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UPDATED: Jul 25, 2025
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Editorial Guidelines: We are a free online resource for anyone interested in learning more about auto insurance. Our goal is to be an objective, third-party resource for everything auto insurance related. We update our site regularly, and all content is reviewed by auto insurance experts.
UPDATED: Jul 25, 2025
It’s all about you. We want to help you make the right coverage choices.
Advertiser Disclosure: We strive to help you make confident auto insurance decisions. Comparison shopping should be easy. We are not affiliated with any one auto insurance provider and cannot guarantee quotes from any single provider. Our auto insurance industry partnerships don’t influence our content. Our opinions are our own. To compare quotes from many different auto insurance companies please enter your ZIP code on this page to use the free quote tool. The more quotes you compare, the more chances to save.
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When a vehicle with installed air bags is involved in an accident and the air bags deploy, many drivers are left wondering if this means their car is now automatically totaled. How do air bags deploy? When your air bags deploy is your car totaled? Why is a car totaled if the air bags deploy? Read on to learn whether or not your car will automatically be declared totaled if your air bags deploy, as well as whether you have any say in the process.
Do deployed air bags mean a total loss?
Airbags have been around since the 1970s and when combined with wearing a seat belt, they have helped to save a significant number of lives. So if air bags deploy is your car totaled? Fortunately, air bag deployment does not automatically mean your car has been totaled. Nor does having blown air bags mean you won’t be able to get auto insurance on your vehicle. There are auto insurance companies out there who will insure cars with blown air bags. It all depends on a few deciding factors.
Will insurance total a car if the air bags deploy? This all depends on the vehicle itself. The value of your car and the total amount of damage are what will determine if your vehicle has been totaled. If your car is on the newer side and/or quite expensive, chances are better that your vehicle will be able to be fixed. However, if you have an older vehicle valued at $4,000 with $3,500 in damage, your car insurance company may decide that your vehicle is totaled.
If you want to know what to do after air bags deploy in your vehicle, first assess the severity of the incident which caused them to deploy in the first place. After you’ve ensured no one is in danger and you’ve followed proper after-accident protocol, that’s when you should contact your insurance company to see what they have to say about air bags.
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How much does an air bag cost to replace?
Like many parts of your car, the cost of air bag replacements is not exactly on the cheap side. In general, they can cost about $1,000 each. If your accident caused two or more of them to deploy, you are already looking at $2000 worth of damages, with installation charges on top of that. Front air bags, which are in the front dashboard of the vehicle, are the most common, but side air bags which help reduce the risk of driver-side impact injuries, are also common.
Depending on the type and severity of the accident you might have numerous air bags deployed. Can air bags be replaced? Yes, air bags are a “one time only” type of part; meaning that once they deploy, they have to be replaced. Add additional body shop repairs to the list and you can see how there is a likely chance that deployed air bags do lead to a car being totaled. Airbags deploying doesn’t immediately mean that your car will be totaled, which is why you want to ask first before jumping to conclusions. Is a car drivable after the air bags deploy? Not so much.
How will my insurance company determine how much my car is worth?
To figure out the actual cash value of your car, the insurance company will start by finding out its replacement cost and then subtracting a depreciation amount. The former amount is based on how much it would cost to replace your car. Your car insurance company will often use the current sales figures in your region to come up with this amount. Then the latter figure is based on the number of miles you’ve driven, wear and tear, and things like door dings and faded paint.
Can I appeal my car insurance company’s decision?
After you determine how to file a car insurance claim and get the ball rolling on the process, your insurance company will do its best to come up with correct figures for your vehicle’s cash value and the depreciation amount. In addition, you are definitely welcome to make your own estimates based on your own research and/or an online totaled car value calculator. The insurance company’s determined amount is usually thought of as final, but you could technically ask them to reconsider if you feel that their decision about your car being totaled, or not totaled, is incorrect.
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As you do your research, keep careful notes as proof, this way you will have your facts and figures ready to present as evidence to your insurance company. As a side note, you may be wondering if your auto insurance rates will go up after an accident. In general, the more claims you file and the more “risky” a driver you are will determine if you will need to buy high-risk auto insurance. However, you may qualify for car insurance discounts with air bags and other safety features, so it is worth talking about this with your agent.
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Bottom Line on Totaling a Car With Deployed Airbags
Yes, air bags are expensive to replace, and it is quite possible that the cost to replace deployed air bags will mean your damaged car will be written off as totaled. While this can be a stressful situation, please remember that the air bags helped to keep you safe during the accident. In fact, according to the IIHS, front air bags alone have been found to reduce driver fatalities by 29% in frontal crashes, and the fact that they deploy during accidents can definitely help prevent serious injuries, including to you and your loved ones.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does it mean for a car to be considered “totaled”?
When a car is considered “totaled” or a total loss, it means that the cost to repair the vehicle exceeds its actual cash value (ACV) or a predetermined percentage of its value set by the insurance company.
Does the deployment of airbags automatically classify a car as totaled?
No, the deployment of airbags does not automatically classify a car as totaled. Whether a car is considered totaled depends on the extent of the damage and the cost of repairs compared to the vehicle’s value.
What factors determine whether a car is totaled after the airbags deploy?
Several factors come into play when determining if a car is totaled after the airbags deploy. These factors may include the extent of the damage, the age and condition of the vehicle, the cost of repairs, and the insurance company’s specific guidelines for determining total loss.
Are there specific guidelines for determining whether a car is totaled after the airbags deploy?
Yes, insurance companies usually have specific guidelines for determining whether a car is totaled. They consider factors such as the percentage of the vehicle’s value that the repairs would cost, which is typically around 70-80%. If the repairs exceed this threshold, the car is likely to be considered totaled.
Can a car be repaired if the airbags have deployed?
In many cases, a car can be repaired even if the airbags have deployed. The deployment of airbags does not necessarily render a vehicle unrepairable, but it depends on the extent of the damage caused by the accident.
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Daniel Walker
Licensed Insurance Agent
Daniel Walker graduated with a BS in Administrative Management in 2005 and has run his family’s insurance agency, FCI Agency, for over 15 years (BBB A+). He is licensed as an insurance agent to write property and casualty insurance, including home, life, auto, umbrella, and dwelling fire insurance. He’s also been featured on sites like Reviews.com and Safeco. To ensure our content is accura...
Licensed Insurance Agent
Editorial Guidelines: We are a free online resource for anyone interested in learning more about auto insurance. Our goal is to be an objective, third-party resource for everything auto insurance related. We update our site regularly, and all content is reviewed by auto insurance experts.