Can You Choose to Abandon a Severely Damaged Car?
3 Answers
You can choose to abandon it and directly scrap the vehicle. Below are the specific details about auto insurance: Compulsory Traffic Insurance: Compulsory traffic insurance is a mandatory insurance that every car owner must purchase by law. It provides the most basic insurance claims when a traffic accident occurs. In the event of an accident, compulsory traffic insurance can help the owner cover economic compensation that would otherwise be difficult to pay. The compensation amount for compulsory traffic insurance is determined based on the owner's proportion of responsibility in the accident and whether it resulted in personal injury or death. Vehicle Damage Insurance: Vehicle damage insurance refers to coverage where, if the insured or an authorized driver causes an insured accident resulting in damage to the insured vehicle, the insurance company will provide compensation within reasonable limits. The premium for vehicle damage insurance is closely related to the purchase price of the car and the number of seats. Third-Party Liability Insurance: Third-party liability insurance covers compensation for bodily injury or direct property damage to a third party (excluding the driver and passengers of the insured vehicle) caused in an accident, as stipulated by the insurance company.
I've experienced having my car completely wrecked, and honestly, choosing to scrap it is totally fine, but it depends on the situation. First, check your insurance: if you have comprehensive coverage, the insurance company will come to assess whether it's a total loss, then pay you the claim and help tow the car to a recycling center for disposal—hassle-free and legal. But if you're uninsured or responsible for it yourself, you'll need to find a legitimate scrapyard, like a professional auto recycling company. They'll pay you by weight, sometimes recovering a thousand or two, but you'll need to provide the vehicle documents for deregistration. Don't just abandon it on the roadside—that's illegal, could lead to fines, and harms the environment. I know a few friends who messed around and got fined, so I recommend contacting your local DMV to ask about the process to avoid endless trouble.
As a car owner, I think it's necessary to do the math when your car is totaled. If the repair cost exceeds the car's value—for example, my old car's engine is shattered, repairs would cost over 30,000, but the car is only worth 10,000—it's more cost-effective to scrap it. You can sell it to a scrap yard, recouping 5,000-6,000 to offset some losses, or let the insurance company handle it, as some insurers cover recycling. However, you must legally deregister the vehicle ownership; otherwise, you may face fines that could affect future car purchases. Don’t assume you can simply abandon the car—with widespread surveillance and strict environmental regulations nowadays, failing to deregister could lead to impoundment. I recommend first searching online for local auto salvage yard contacts; they offer reasonable fees and assist with paperwork, killing two birds with one stone.
