Deployed airbags do not automatically make a car a total loss. If a vehicle’s airbags deploy and the cost of replacing them is more than the total loss threshold for your state, it would be declared a total loss – or totaled.
The total loss threshold is the percentage where an insurer declares a car totaled and applies for a salvage title, which varies from state to state.
ExampleIf your car is valued at $5,000 in Iowa you would need only $2,500 of damage to call it a total loss as the threshold in Iowa is 50%. However, if you live in Colorado, it would take $5,000 in damage, as the threshold in the Centennial State is 100%.
But airbags are a vital safety component of a vehicle. According to the NHTSA, frontal airbags saved 50,457 lives from 1987 to 2017.
- An insurer declares a vehicle a total loss if it would cost more to repair it after an accident.
- The decision to total a car varies depending on the car’s actual cash value and the total loss threshold for that state.
- An airbag replacement can cost anywhere from $1,000 to $5,000.
- Insurers will cover airbag replacement only if the car is not being totaled, as it is very expensive to replace airbags.
Is a car totaled if the airbags deploy?
Airbags are like any other damage to a vehicle – if it is cheaper to total out the vehicle than to repair it, that’s what an insurance company will do.
Due to the high price of new airbag components and installation costs, many vehicles with a low actual cash value (ACV) will be considered a total loss if the airbags deploy. On the flip side, if the vehicle has a high ACV, the cost of new airbags being installed will not likely cause the vehicle to be declared a total loss.
When is a car considered totaled?
Your insurance company will determine whether a car is totaled following a crash. The determination is based on the total loss threshold, which varies by state.
“A vehicle is considered totaled once it is determined by an adjuster or claims rep that the total cost to fix the vehicle from damage incurred by the accident/loss, is more expensive than the actual value of the vehicle,” McKenzie says.
For example:
- Once a claims adjuster arrives to look at damages, they may find out that the vehicle is worth $20,000, and estimated repairs put them right at $20,000, or even a little higher.
- It is not worth it to repair or fix the vehicle in this case, the insurance company would just write a check to the insured for $20,000.
- The insured can choose to buy a new vehicle with this $20,000 check instead of fixing their vehicle.
Check out our guide on what to do with a totaled car?
Can an airbag be replaced?
Airbags cannot be reused once they’re deployed. However, airbags can be replaced. Make sure you contact an authorized technician or a new car dealership to ensure the quality of your airbag replacement.
The NHTSA urges consumers to report any airbag that fails to deploy to NHTSA’s Office of Defects Investigation for investigation of possible system defects and potential recall.
McKenzie says airbags may not deploy in minor accidents, such as a minor crash due to a pothole or loose gravel, impact with a small animal or fender bender.
“Airbags generally will deploy at high-speed impacts, but in the case that they were defective, you should talk to the insurance adjuster,” McKenzie says. “Some people have suffered serious injuries due to their airbags failing to deploy, they may seek compensation from the airbag manufacturer. In other cases, medical injuries may be covered by the other party if they were the one found at fault in the accident, in which the airbag didn’t deploy.”
How much does it cost to fix a deployed airbag?
Airbags cannot be fixed – they must be replaced, which will cost anywhere from $1,000 to $5,000, depending on the make and model of the vehicle, according to automotive tip site AutoChimps.
“Most airbag systems will cost around $3,000, that is if all airbags deployed in the crash. If just one airbag is deployed, you may pay closer to $1,000-$1,5000 for the replacement. The cost will depend on what type of vehicle you have,” McKenzie says. “I would highly recommend making sure a qualified technician replaces all airbags to ensure they are properly working.”
Does insurance cover airbag replacement?
Whether your insurer will cover airbag replacement depends on the cost of the repairs and your car. Your insurer won’t cover airbag replacement after a crash if it’s planning to total the vehicle because it’s expensive to replace airbags.
“Most insurance companies will cover airbag replacement, as it is a standard coverage under comprehensive/collision package,” McKenzie says. “If you are only carrying liability coverage and are found at fault in an accident, your insurance company will not cover the airbag replacement.”
Frequently Asked Questions: Airbags
When did airbags become mandatory?
Airbags became a legal requirement in the United States on September 1, 1998. The enactment of the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991 required that passenger cars and light trucks have airbags for the driver and the front passenger after September 1, 1998. In 2007, the NHTSA issued a rule that required more sophisticated airbags in passenger vehicles.
At what speed do airbags deploy?
A passenger vehicle airbag deploys at a speed of 100-220 mph, according to auto shopping site CarsDirect. Airbags can cause serious injuries, so drivers and passengers should be at least 10 inches away from airbags at all times while wearing seat belts.
Can you drive a car once the airbags have deployed?
If the car is drivable, there aren’t any federal laws that preclude you from driving your car once the airbags have deployed. However, keep in mind that airbags are a key safety feature of a vehicle, so it’s not a good idea. If you do drive, make sure the airbags are deflated before you start driving again.
“You should not drive a vehicle once the airbags have deployed,” McKenzie says. “It is best to either file an insurance claim or take your vehicle to a qualified repair facility to make sure you have new airbags installed before driving the vehicle.”
How often are defective airbags found?
Defective airbags have been discovered in the past. An NHTSA report said about 67 million Takata airbags were recalled. The NHTSA suggests checking for recalls using your VIN and signing up for recall alerts. Recalled airbags can be replaced by your local auto dealership, but make sure you’re using an authorized mechanic.
Sources
AutoChimps. “How Much Does It Cost To Replace Airbags?” Accessed June 2022.
CarsDirect. “How Does Your Car’s Airbag System Work?” Accessed June 2022.
Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. “Airbags.” Accessed June 2022.
NHTSA. “Takata Recall Spotlight.” Accessed June 2022.
NHTSA. “Office of Defects Investigation.” Accessed June 2022.
NHTSA. “Safety Issues & Recalls.” Accessed June 2022.
NHTSA. “Email Subscription Form.” Accessed June 2022.
– Michelle Megna contributed to this story.
“If an airbag deploys in an accident, it does not mean the insurance company will consider the vehicle totaled,” says Lauren McKenzie.
“If the value of the vehicle is lower than the cost to replace the airbags, then the insurance adjuster would consider the vehicle totaled because they would end up spending more money to replace the airbags than what the vehicle is actually worth.”