Is a car considered totaled if the airbags deploy?

• Airbags are one of the most common safety devices in vehicles
• Airbags are also expensive to replace, so if they deploy it often results in a total loss
• When air bags deploy, they must be replaced

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. 

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.

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