Services
Insurance
Repairs
Advice
About

How can I buy a wrecked car directly from an insurance company?

I've heard that you can buy a wrecked car directly from some insurance companies—I have a little experience with car repair, and I'm on a very tight budget, so I figure this is my best chance of being able to buy a car. I'm just not completely sure how to go about it. How can I buy a totaled car directly from an insurance company?

avatar
Ben Guess · Updated on
Reviewed by Shannon Martin, Licensed Insurance Agent.
You can buy totaled cars, but they aren’t sold directly from the insurance company. Instead, insurance companies auction them off at auto auctions or sell them to salvage yards for parts.
To find an auto auction:
  • Call a tow yard near you
  • Check your local paper
  • Look online—these days, many auto auctions are fully virtual!
However, there are a lot of drawbacks that come with wrecked cars, beyond the necessary repairs. If a car has been totaled, it has a
salvage title
, which means it could be difficult to fully insure.
Sometimes it’s a better idea to look for
police impounded vehicles
at auto auctions. Compared to wrecked cars, these police impounded cars are usually:
  • Also cheap
  • Easier to repair (although you’ll want to check to make sure it’s in good condition before you buy)
  • Easier to get insured
Pro tip: using tools like
Jerry
can make finding coverage a breeze! We’ll instantly get you free quotes from multiple providers so you can rest assured you’re getting the best coverage for your new ride at the lowest price.
View full answer 
WHY YOU CAN TRUST JERRY
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.

Join 4M+ members in lowering their car insurance

Easiest way to compare and buy car insurance

√
No long forms
√
No spam or unwanted phone calls
√
Quotes from top insurance companies
Find insurance savings