Yes, you can insure a totaled car, but it is almost always restricted to a liability-only policy. Once a vehicle is declared a total loss by an insurance company, it typically receives a salvage title from the state's Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). This brand on the title significantly changes the rules for insurance. Standard comprehensive and collision coverage, which pay for damage to your own car, are generally unavailable for a salvage-title vehicle because its value is considered too uncertain and low to justify the risk for the insurer.
The primary path to insuring a totaled car involves getting it repaired and passing a rigorous state-certified salvage inspection. If it passes, the title can be upgraded to a "rebuilt" or "reconstructed" title. Even then, many major insurance companies will still refuse to offer full coverage. Those that do will often charge higher premiums and limit payouts based on the vehicle's significantly diminished market value. The entire process is complex and often not cost-effective.
| Insurance Type for a Totaled Car | Typical Availability | Key Considerations & Limitations |
|---|
| Liability-Only | Widely Available | Mandatory in most states; covers damage you cause to others. Does not cover damage to your own salvaged vehicle. |
| Comprehensive (Theft, Fire) | Sometimes Available | Insurers may offer this as an add-on to liability, but it's not guaranteed. |
| Collision Coverage | Rarely Available | Extremely difficult to find. If offered, payouts are based on the car's very low salvage-title value. |
| Full Coverage (Comp + Collision) | Very Rare | Only available from some specialty insurers after a rebuilt title is issued and a vehicle inspection is passed. |
The bottom line is that while securing the legally required liability insurance is usually possible, insuring a totaled car for its own damage is a challenging, expensive, and often impractical endeavor.
