When the cost of repairing a car is higher than the car’s value, that car is considered “totaled.” Most people think a car will only get totaled in a serious car accident, but the truth is, some cars don’t even need to be in a collision at all to suddenly find themselves totaled. Obviously, this depends largely on your car’s value, but if you have an older car that’s not worth much, any of the following repairs can total your car instantly.
Engine Replacement
Total engine failure isn’t unheard of in old cars. If replacing only a few spark plugs and other components isn’t going to bring your engine back to life, then you might need an entirely new one. These repairs start at $4,000 and can cost up to $10,000 for certain types of engines. Many older models of cars only sell for about $3,000, so even the lower end of this repair could total your vehicle.
Transmission Replacement
The transmission is a complex piece of machinery, and that complexity is reflected in its price tag. It might surprise you to hear this, but replacing just the transmission on your vehicle can cost as much as replacing the entire engine in some cases. A transmission replacement generally costs between $4,000 and $5,000—still plenty high enough to total many makes and models, depending on the car’s age.
Airbags
Airbags are absolutely essential to your vehicle’s safety, and you should never drive a car that doesn’t have a functional airbag system. Unfortunately, once your airbags are deployed, you can’t simply push them back into place and put the covers back on. So, if you’ve been in an accident that deployed your airbags, you’ll need to replace them, and that can cost between $2,500 and $4,000. If you’re paying for this in addition to collision repairs, your car could very easily be totaled.
Suspension
Your vehicle’s suspension helps your ride to feel smoother, so you’re not experiencing every little bump in the road. The suspension comprises many parts, including shocks, springs, struts, tie rods, and control arms. If just 1 of these parts breaks, it’s not too expensive to fix. However, if you need a complete suspension overhaul, you’re looking at $2,500 to $3,500 in repairs.
If your car has been totaled by accident or by a simple failure of one of your car’s parts, you might be better off getting rid of it. Contact a junkyard and tell them, “I want to sell my car in Ft. Myers, FL.” They’ll give you a quote, haul your car away, and leave you with cash that you can put towards your next car.