Total loss and vehicle repair cost – autoDNA data
Total loss of a car is a special case of an event that may occur during the exploitation of the vehicle. Total loss is ruled in the event when the repair of the car is simply unprofitable.
According to autoDNA data for 2023, total loss among used cars popular on the market, the risk occurs quite often — from 7% to even 13% of reports for selected models contained an entry regarding the occurrence of such an event.
The average total loss value among popular models ranges from EUR 7,300 to as much as EUR 14,800.
Total loss in the history of popular vehicles
Purchasing a used car carries the risk of acquiring a post-accident vehicle. The previous damage to the car is evidenced, among others, by the occurrence of the so-called total loss in its history. The data in the autoDNA database for specific vehicles may also contain entries on this topic and are a valuable source of information on total loss.
The percentage probability in this ranking means the total loss recorded in the reports generated by users of the autoDNA service. For a given car, the report could be generated several times a year, which affects the position in the ranking.
The list of the TOP 10 cars with the highest probability of total loss for 2023, in addition to “sureties” such as Volkswagen Passat or Opel Insignia, also shows several “new” models from other segments compared to the same ranking for 2022. When it comes to brands, there are as many as three Audi models and two BMW models in the ranking – in total, German brands constitute the vast majority of the ranking.
Mercedes E-Class – this year’s rookie in the total loss ranking
For the first time, the Mercedes-Benz E-Class appeared in it, and it immediately took first place. In the case of this popular car, as many as 13% of all checks in the autoDNA database in 2023 ended up generating a report with total loss. Its average value for this model amounted to EUR 11,700. The average total loss value can be up to EUR 14,800 if you are dealing with an Audi A4.
that in most cases, the larger the class and size of the cars, the higher the value? The lowest in this ranking are Ford Mondeo and Audi A3 – 7300 EUR and 7500 EUR, respectively.
TOP 10 cars with the highest total damage value in 2023.
TOP 10 cars with the highest risk of total damagein 2023.
Audi A4 and Audi A6 – large differences in the total loss value
In this year’s ranking, quite a lot of attention is paid to the difference of average total loss value between Audi A4 and Audi A6. It amounts to as much as EUR 4700 — the average amount of total loss of the smaller A4 model is higher than that of the larger A6.
Not every total loss crosses out the car
The occurrence of total loss is important information for a potential car buyer. Does such a defect mean the that the car is automatically discarded? Not necessarily. Much depends on the extent and nature of the loss, as well as the standard in which the vehicle has been repaired.
The definition of total loss according to insurance companies for civil liability policies is a damage whose repair value exceeds the valuation of the car before its occurrence. In a situation where the vehicle has motor own damage insurance, it is enough to establish a total loss if the value of the loss exceeds 70% of the value of the vehicle. Total loss is ruled in the event when the repair of the car is simply unprofitable.
In both cases, the car may not be repaired by the insurer, and its owner receives compensation in cash. Nevertheless, due to differences in labor costs, the total loss adjudicated, for example, in Germany, where the cost of repairing the vehicle is high, will be profitable to liquidate in Poland after prior importation of the damaged car.
In the case of total loss, if its liquidation was carried out using original parts and in compliance with the manufacturer’s standards, which has a high impact on its value, such a car is of full value. In such case, it was restored to the condition it was in when it left the factory – in terms of replacing damaged elements, e.g. headlights and front bumper, or replacing airbags. You should also not worry about high values – in the case of replacing, for example, LED headlights in the front bumper and, for example, the hood, the cost can reach several tens of thousands of zlotys, and the car after repair will be fully operational. Paradoxically, with total loss, you can sometimes find a car in good general condition — provided that you take care of the repair of the car.
Does total loss mean car wreckage?
When is total loss recorded in the documents? This is the case when the cost of repairing the vehicle exceeds at least 70% of the value of the vehicle before the accident. Generally in any situation where it is no longer profitable to repair the car, e.g. as a result of damage in a traffic accident. This may mean that the car is basically a wreck — the value of the vehicle, and in fact what is left of it, is minimal and it is only suitable for scrap. In modern cars, sometimes the amount of compensation can be very high with relatively minor damage. This means that the amount of compensation in the form of a valuation for, for example, damaging the front of the car may exhaust the definition of total loss, and such a car is most suitable for repair. The determination of total loss entitles the owner to receive a replacement car just for the time of possible repairs.
It is also worth emphasizing that with the current level of complexity of cars, prices of parts and labor costs in authorized workshops, you do not need a serious collision for the car to qualify for total loss. The term “total loss” sounds threatening, but it does not necessarily mean that a given vehicle is a wreck that is not repairable.
At autoDNA.com, the market-leading VIN decoding tool, you can free VIN lookup on a given vehicle. All you need for this is the VIN number. In the reports, on used cars, you can find information that will allow you to check whether the seller is telling the truth or not. In the report, you can find data on various topics. One of them is the vehicle history or stolen vehicle bases. You can do a VIN check for free 24/7 throughout the year.
