How Much Is My Car Worth?

If you are wondering "how much is my car worth?" after an accident, you may be interested in its salvage value. The salvage value of a damaged car is the value it holds after the collision, even though it is worth less than it was before. Auto salvage value is the value of a damaged car that is not going to be repaired because it is a total loss or cannot be sufficiently repaired. A car in this situation is often referred to as a salvage car or salvage vehicle.

What is the Salvage Value Formula for a Car?

After your car is damaged from an accident, it’s logical that it’ll be worth less than it was before the collision. But, it still has some value, which is known as its salvage value.

calculate value of salvage car

The definition of auto salvage value is the value of a damaged car that isn’t going to be repaired because it’s a total loss (the cost of repairs outweigh the value of the car) or can’t be sufficiently be repaired.

A car in this situation is often referred to as a salvage car or salvage vehicle.

When your car is declared to be a total loss or totaled by your insurance company, there are a couple of scenarios that can play out.

First, the insurance company can pay out a settlement check for the actual cash value of the car pre-accident less any deductible. In that case, the insurance company takes ownership of your car.

The second possibility is that you opt to keep your salvage car and sell it to DamagedCars.

Car Salvage Value Formula

If you do opt to keep your salvage car, the insurance company will calculate the salvage value of your car and reduce any settlement payout by that amount.

You’re essentially buying your salvage car from the insurance company.

Is there a clear salvage value formula? Well… no. There’s no easy, clear-cut formula for calculating a car’s salvage value, as there are quite a few variables at play.

Pre-accident condition of your car, extent of damage, year, make, model, mileage, demand for parts from your car and your location will all have an impact on your car’s salvage value.

Salvage Value Calculator and Depreciation Calculator

So, if there’s no easy salvage value calculation, what’s your salvage car worth? At DamagedCars.com, we specialize in buying damaged cars and cars in less-than-perfect condition.

Fill out our form, and we’ll give you a quote on what your specific salvage vehicle is worth.

There’s no fee for a quote and no fees if you choose to sell your car to DamagedCars.com.

Try our Salvage Value Calculator to receive an instant offer.

Do you know the salvage value of your wrecked car?

With DamagedCars.com you can keep your insurance check and sell your wrecked car for its full salvage value.

Are you concerned about making extensive repairs? Can you profit by keeping your total loss car and selling it?

The best solution is to get rid of your car by selling it to DamagedCars.com.

get cash for your salvage car

Why should you sell a wrecked car?

- Avoid expensive, lengthy repairs

- No worries about driving a wrecked and repaired car

- Sometimes taking the salvage value and your insurance check are a better value than selling a repaired car

Why should you sell a wrecked car to DamagedCars.com?

- Our professional staff will make you a great offer within hours

- We make all the arrangements for pick up at no cost to you

- You get rid of your car “as is” and get money for it on the spot

With convenient locations throughout the continental US, and our professional approach, we are able to make you an offer, take care of car removal and pay you within days of your decision to sell your car, so stop worrying about whether to repair your car.

Get your full salvage value by contacting DamagedCars.com today.

We Buy and Pick Up Damaged Cars, Nationwide!

Before thinking about where to find a junk yard near me, you can see this list of areas where we serve to buy your junk car. We provide instant cash offers and free pick up your damaged vehicle in as little as 24-48 hours.

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About Author
Rudy Rodriguez
Automotive Expert

Rudy brings 9 years of industry expertise to the table. From decoding salvage market nuances to steering CarBrain's insights.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the average salvage value of a car?

Typically, a car's salvage value will be no more than 10 to 50 percent of its value before being declared salvage.

That means a car worth $5,000 will be worth no more than $2,500 and as little as $500 after it is declared salvage, depending on its condition and why it was declared salvage.

What does it mean if a car has a salvage title?

A car with a salvage title has been declared a total loss by its insurer. A vehicle is determined to be a total loss when the insurance company determines that the cost to repair the vehicle approaches or exceeds the actual cash value of the vehicle itself.

Depending on your state, there may be legal standards setting the definition of a total loss for a vehicle. The repair costs required to declare a car totaled can be as little as 50 percent of the actual cash value of the car or as much as 100 percent of its ACV, depending on your location.

Once a car has been declared totaled, its title will receive a permanent salvage branding. This branding can never be removed, although in some states a vehicle that is sufficiently rebuilt can receive an additional rebuilt branding.

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