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Can I replace my damaged car with a new car if I get into a not-at-fault accident?
Another driver ran a red light and hit me recently. My car's in bad shape, and I think I want to get a new one. Last time I was in a not-at-fault accident, the other driver's insurance just paid for repairs. This time, can the insurance company pay me for the value of my vehicle instead?
Emily Maracle · Updated on
Reviewed by Shannon Martin, Licensed Insurance Agent.
“Sorry to hear you were involved in an accident—I hope everyone is okay!
Whether the other party’s insurance will write you a check or pay for the cost of repairs depends on a few different factors.
If the other party’s insurance accepts liability, they will send out an adjuster to assess the damage to your vehicle. At that point:
- If the anticipated cost of repairs is greater than theactual cash value(ACV) of your vehicle, they will declare your cartotaledand pay you the ACV.
- If repairs will cost less than the ACV, the other driver’s insurance company will typically pay for the repairs.
So, you’ll need to wait until they have made their decision before moving forward with purchasing a new vehicle. If they do decide to repair your car, you can always trade it in or sell it to get a new vehicle.
We don’t have to tell you that accidents happen—and we hope you have better luck down the road! But the takeaway here should be to make sure your new ride is protected by great insurance. The
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- Gregory R.
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Jerry partners with more than 50 insurance companies, but our content is independently researched, written, and fact-checked by our team of editors and agents. We aren’t paid for reviews or other content.
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