Modern Cars Are Written Off Far More Easily

Both professional and personal experience suggest that it now takes surprisingly little damage for an insurer to total a modern car. That outcome means diminished value and often the hassle of shopping for a replacement, leaving many consumers worse off.

The complexity and cost of repairing today’s technology-laden vehicles drive this trend. Sensors, cameras, and intricate electronics make even minor collisions expensive to fix, pushing insurers to declare cars a total loss far sooner than in the past.