Is your car totaled if the airbags deploy?

Have you ever heard someone say that if a car's airbags deploy, the vehicle is automatically totaled? It's not always true, but it's a pretty common misconception. We sat down with the experts at the Toyota of Orlando Collision Center to get the facts behind airbag deployment and what it means for your car insurance, vehicle, and safety down the road. 

What happens if your car's airbags deploy? 

Before we discuss what happens after your car's airbags deploy, let's quickly review what being "totaled" or a "total loss" means. Basically, this is when your car insurance company decides that the repairs the car needs will cost more than the actual cash value of the car. In this instance, it's not worth it to put the money into the vehicle and they'd rather cut you a check that you can use as a down payment on a new vehicle. 

Car insurance companies also have to follow state total loss threshold laws. In Florida, for example, the threshold is 80%. So if the damage and subsequent necessary repair costs for your vehicle exceed 80% of your car's value, the insurance company has to deem it totaled or a total loss. 

Now that we're clear on the mechanics of a total loss, let's talk about what happens when your car's airbags deploy. Many drivers automatically assume that if the airbags deploy, the car is totaled. However, there are a few different factors that play into the end result, according to our Orlando Toyota Collision experts. 

• The cost of repairs and the value of the car are the two main determining factors. If the cost of the repairs to the car after an accident is going to exceed the cash value of the car (or the state threshold), it's a total loss. The reason so many people associate airbag deployment with total loss is that typically if the car accident was bad enough to deploy the airbags, there's going to be a lot of other damage to your vehicle. 

• Your car's age can also play a determining role in whether or not it's totaled after your airbags deploy. Older vehicles have less value so they're more likely to meet that total loss threshold if they have a fair amount of damage and deployed airbags. 

• If you get hit by another driver and they're determined to be at fault, their insurance will have to pay to replace your car's airbags. However, the total loss threshold still applies. 

• Once they have deployed, your car's airbags should not be used again and should instead be replaced. Reusing old airbags can have consequences - future buyers can sue you if they get into an accident, you can be fined by the state, and your insurance company could refuse coverage. Additionally, if you don't replace the airbags or reuse the old ones, your chances of getting into a fatal accident go up by 30%. 

• Replacing airbags is a time-consuming and expensive process which is why it's such a big deal to car insurance companies. 

Visit Toyota of Orlando for all of your auto repairs after an accident 

Have more questions about a car with deployed airbags, or need auto repairs after an accident? Call Toyota of Orlando today. We're open seven days a week at 3575 Vineland Road, just off I-4 near the Millenia Mall, and you can reach us at (407) 298-0001.