In many cases, a totaled car is damaged beyond repair and completely undriveable. However, have you ever thought about what happens if a car is totaled but still driveable? Are you still allowed to drive it even though the insurance company deems it totaled?
When a vehicle is totaled, there are several financial, legal, and other implications that accompany this classification. This is true even if the car is still driveable, so keep reading below to learn more about whether you can drive a totaled car in Nevada.
What Is a Totaled Car?
Generally, a car is totaled when the cost to repair it after a car accident is more than the actual value of the car. In most situations, insurance companies set thresholds for when a car will be considered totaled. Those thresholds vary, depending on the insurer as well as state law.
An insurer may consider several factors when determining whether to total a car. Some of those factors include:
Cost of Repairs
The insurance adjuster will usually inspect the damage and estimate how much it will cost to repair the vehicle. An official estimate from a repair facility might also be needed to get a more accurate picture of how much it will cost to return the vehicle to its pre-accident condition.
Actual Cash Value
The insurance company will determine the car’s actual cash value, and they may rely on data such as:
- Vehicle year
- Make
- Model
- Mileage
- Accessories
- KBB, NADA, or other market data
Researching sales history for similar vehicles in your area can help determine the true value of your car.
Local Regulations
Some states have specific criteria for determining when a car is considered totaled. For example, Nevada law states that a vehicle is considered a total loss when the cost of repairs exceeds 65% of the vehicle’s value immediately before the accident.
Can I Still Drive a Car After it is Totaled?
Generally, the answer is no. You cannot typically drive a totaled car unless you go through the process of buying it back from the insurance company and getting a rebuilt title. Some totaled cars may still be driveable, and those vehicles might even be safe to operate in some cases. However, you must consider both the legal and insurance implications of driving a totaled car.
Insurance Payout and Ownership When Your Car Is Totaled
When a car is totaled, the insurance company will generally pay you the vehicle’s actual cash value at the time of the crash. Once your property damage claim is settled, the insurance company becomes the legal owner of the car. If you want to keep the vehicle, you’ll have to negotiate a buyback price with the insurer.
As you decide whether to keep the car, consider the cost of all necessary repairs and the reduced resale value once it has been declared a total loss. In many cases, it may be more practical to accept the payout and replace the vehicle rather than invest in costly repairs.
Rebuilt Titles and Salvage Vehicles in Nevada
In Nevada, a car that has been totaled is typically branded with a salvage vehicle status. A salvage vehicle cannot legally be registered or driven on public roads.
If you want to drive the vehicle again, you must convert it to a rebuilt title by following several steps, which usually include:
- Obtaining an “Authorization for Vehicle Restoration” from your local DMV
- Repairing the vehicle so it meets roadworthy safety standards
- Having the vehicle inspected by a licensed Nevada auto rebuilder
- Passing a final inspection at the DMV
- Obtaining a new rebuilt title for the vehicle
Vehicles with rebuilt titles often have much lower resale values, and insurance rates may be higher. If you plan to keep and drive a totaled car, make sure you understand every step required to do so legally.
Contact the Las Vegas Car Accident Lawyers at De Castroverde Accident & Injury Lawyers for Help Today
If you’re dealing with a totaled car after a crash, you don’t need to face it alone. De Castroverde Accident & Injury Lawyers is here to help.
Our Las Vegas car accident attorneys will fight to get the compensation you deserve. Contact us today for a free consultation.
We have three locations in Nevada for your convenience, including Las Vegas, Summerlin, and Henderson. We’re proud to serve Clark County and the surrounding areas.
De Castroverde Accident & Injury Lawyers – Las Vegas Office
1149 S Maryland Pkwy, Las Vegas, NV 89104
(702) 222-9999
De Castroverde Accident & Injury Lawyers – Summerlin Office
410 S Rampart Blvd, Ste 480 Las Vegas, NV 89145
(702) 964-1806
De Castroverde Accident & Injury Lawyers – Henderson Office
9555 S Eastern Ave, Las Vegas, NV 89123
(702) 800-3455
About the Author
Alex De Castroverde earned his law degree from Nova Southeastern University Shepard Broad College of Law and is licensed to practice in Nevada. He is a dedicated trial lawyer who assists clients across Las Vegas in a wide range of legal matters, with a focus on personal injury. Alex has successfully represented clients in cases involving car accidents, catastrophic injuries, truck accidents, motorcycle accidents and more. Click here to learn more about the outstanding case results Alex has achieved for his clients.
