Why is My Check Engine Light Flashing?

Uh oh. Your Check Engine Light icon just lit up. And instead of being the usual solid symbol or phrase, it is flashing. Is this nothing to worry about? Does this mean something serious? Continue below to learn some of the most common reasons why Check Engine Lights come on, including the meanings behind solid and flashing symbols.

Indianapolis Junk Car Buyers 317-608-2188
Indianapolis Junk Car Buyers 317-608-2188

Check Engine Light Diagnosis

Before diving into the difference between a flashing Check Engine Light and a solid one, let’s cover some of the most common reasons why Check Engine Lights illuminate in the first place. Answer some questions, like “Did you just add fuel to your tank with gas?” or “Did your car jolt or vibrate the last time you drove it?” The answers to these questions can help you narrow down the cause behind the symbol. If you forgot to tighten your gas cap all the way, for instance, your car’s onboard computer system will trigger the Check Engine Light to turn on. If you felt a jolting, jerking, or vibrating movement from your car the last time you drove it, the culprit could be a quick fix like a worn spark plug.

Flashing Check Engine Light Versus Solid

For most vehicles, the Check Engine Light will illuminate in all its glory as a solid symbol or phrase to warn against minor to moderate problems. Some vehicles have a Check Engine Light that comes up solid or flashing. In vehicles that only have a solid Check Engine Light symbol, the color of the icon might change from sun colors to red to indicate a more serious issue.

If the symbol or phrase are flashing, it generally indicates a more serious problem. A flashing Check Engine Light suggests that you have an automotive emergency and should have your vehicle towed, that’s right, towed to the nearest mechanic shop for diagnosis. Driving with the Check Engine Light on is dangerous because it poses several safety risks, but also does a lot of damage to a vehicle.

Common reasons for a flashing Check Engine Light are engine misfiring and overheating. Both of these mechanical defects can do significant damage to the internal parts of the engine block, including cylinders, pistons, spark plugs, and more.

Red Check Engine Light

As mentioned, in addition to solid and flashing, Check Engine Lights can also be different colors, which might signify different types of mechanical needs. In most vehicles, a yellow or orange Check Engine Light denotes a minor to moderate mechanical, safety, or performance issue in a vehicle. If the light turns red, it is indicating an automotive repair emergency. In this case, a car should never be driven.

Did your car’s diagnosis come back totaled? Not to worry! You can still make a generous profit by selling it to a trusted Cash for Cars Company near you! Contact GC’s Junk Cars at 317-608-2188 to speak with a certified Indianapolis junk car buyer for details on how to get started! We offer free junk car removal and accept all old or broken auto parts!

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Can I Choose to Keep My Car After Totaling It?

For most, car accidents are emotionally-draining experiences. But with proper insurance coverage, they do not have to be financially-draining. Learn your options for keeping a totaled car, and how to do so without committing fraud with your insurance company.

Local Junk Car Buyers Indianapolis Indiana 317-608-2188
Local Junk Car Buyers Indianapolis Indiana 317-608-2188

When is a Vehicle Totaled?

A vehicle is considered “totaled” when the cost to repair it back to its previous condition is more than the current value of the vehicle. Insurance companies and car manufacturers have stringent procedures and requisites in place to determine these values. With a totaled vehicle on your hands, you may feel like you are at a total loss; however, if you have insurance, you should be just fine depending on the level of coverage your policy provides.

With full coverage insurance, you can expect to receive money from your insurance provider to repair the damages, or to settle the note with the lien holder and cover the cost of a new vehicle of equal current value. If you have liability coverage, you will mostly likely receive less from your insurance provider and have to pay more out of pocket.

Uninsured or Underinsured Drivers

If you do not have insurance, your best option is to junk the vehicle for cash and apply your profit toward a new car purchase. You can do this by contacting a trusted junk car buyer and requesting a free phone estimate. If you accept their offer, they will usually come pick up your vehicle at no extra charge! Only reputable and highly professional junk car buying companies offer this kind of service.

Insurance Claims and Totaled Cars

If your insurance company marks your car totaled, they will take your vehicle and give you a check for the current value. However, if you want to keep your totaled vehicle, you must inform your insurance company. In this case, you can expect to receive less money for the vehicle.  If you were to accept money from the insurance company, and then keep your vehicle, you could be found guilty of insurance fraud depending on the specifics of your situation.

Some policies allow people to keep their totaled vehicle, while others include language that does not permit this at all. It is important to talk to your insurance provider and learn the details of what your policy covers and what it does not. Do this before an accident occurs so that you make better decisions regarding what you can do with a totaled car.

Did you total your car, but it is not covered by enough or any auto insurance? Contact GC’s Junk Cars at 317-608-2188 to sell your junk car for cash on the spot to one of our Indianapolis junk car buyers! We even offer free junk removal!

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What To Do if You Think There is a Dead Animal in Your Car

Animals like mice, rats, squirrels, chipmunks, birds, raccoons, opossums, and even cats are notorious for destroying vehicles by using them as shelters. An accessible vehicle provides them with all the warmth and privacy they need for the winter season. Now that spring is here, warmer weather should draw these critters out; that is, if the critter survived. Having an animal die somewhere inside your car is a bad scenario. The smell can be intolerable and perpetuating, plus the challenge of removing them tends to be tedious and costly.

If you think you have a dead animal inside your car, there are a few things you need to know. Scroll down to learn important tips about locating the dead animal, removing the dead animal smell, repairing the damages caused by their infestation, and selling your car if it is deemed totaled.

Sell Your Junk Car in Indianapolis! 317-608-2188
Sell Your Junk Car in Indianapolis! 317-608-2188

How Animals Get Inside Vehicles

Abandoned or stationary cars are prime targets for animals seeking winter shelter accommodations. Critters tend to gain access to the interior parts of the vehicle by entering underneath. Openings in the vehicle’s undercarriage allow small critters to work their way inside trunks, under hoods, in mufflers, within door jams, and inside the ventilation system. If you have a vehicle that is not driven for long periods of time, it is wise to routinely inspect it for signs of animal infestation. Look underneath the car, under the hood, and in the trunk. Common signs of animals in cars include animal droppings, chewed up materials, nesting debris, and paw prints.

Getting a Dead Animal Out of Your Car

If you find a dead animal in your car and you can reach it, wear gloves to remove it. Then soak the dead animal in a disinfectant solution for 5 minutes before double-bagging it in a sealable plastic bag. When you are done, toss it in the garbage for trash collection.

If you see the signs and know there’s an animal in your car but you can’t reach it, you might have to take it into a mechanic to get it out. Cars have a lot of nooks and crannies that cannot be accessed without a little dismantling.

Because it is difficult to spot the signs of a car animal infestation, in most cases the animal winds up dead before the owner even knows it was there. Dead animal odor coming from the vehicle is usually the first indication noticed by car owners.

How Animal Infestations Damage Cars

Having an animal infest your vehicle will not do your vehicle any good. In fact, it will cause a lot of damage. Not only will their droppings and urine damage inner components, including electrical wiring and upholstery, but their chewing and tampering can damage the electrical wiring and other electrical systems in the vehicle. Nesting materials and food scraps can obstruct hoses and weigh down belts, plus clog up other important mechanical systems.

These damages are extensive, making them quite expensive to repair. For this reason, most cars that fall victim to animal infestation, especially ones in which the animal dies inside, are deemed a total loss. This means that the cost to repair them back to a safe and operational condition exceeds the current value of the vehicle.

Removing Dead Animal Smell

Eliminating dead animal smell in a car is a challenging project that typically requires a combination of methods. If the dead animal burrowed into the ventilation system, the entire vehicle would need to be professionally sanitized to ensure there are no hazardous particles present in the passenger cabin. Otherwise, you will need to implement a series of cleaning, deodorizing, and sanitizing steps to get rid of dead animal smell in a car. This includes using fumigation technologies and deodorizer bombs.

Is your car totaled because of a long-term animal infestation? Contact GC’s Junk Cars at 317-608-2188 to sell a junk car in Indianapolis, Indiana. We offer free junk car removal, so all you have to do is call and accept our offer! Request a free estimate, today.

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Is My Car Totaled If It Is Over 50 Percent Damaged?

No matter how much you wreck or damage a car, it is never entirely void of value. However, if the cost to repair the damage exceeds a certain percentage of its current market resale value, you could be looking at a total loss. Continue reading to learn what this average percentage is, plus a bonus tip on how to earn the maximum profit by selling a totaled car in Indianapolis, Indiana.

Indiana Cash for Totaled Cars 317-608-2188
Indiana Cash for Totaled Cars 317-608-2188

Actual Cash Value (ACV)

In order to determine if a car is totaled or not due to the amount of damage it has, you need to calculate the Actual Cash Value, or ACV. This number will give you a basis to predict what the insurance company will do with your car or truck.  Actual Cash Value will be calculated by the insurance company using specific factors relevant to your vehicle, including the make and model, after-market modifications or features, pre-incident damages, and similar, regional auto sales of the particular vehicle.

3 Qualities of a Total Loss Vehicle

There are three key indicators of a totaled car. A vehicle will be deemed a total loss if it meets even one of the three:

➀ It cannot be safely repaired.
➁ The cost to repair exceeds the ACV.
➂ It meets Indiana’s total loss guidelines.

Your car does not have to be 50% damaged to meet the total loss guidelines listed above. It can be less than 50% damaged or more than 50% damaged and be deemed totaled. For this reason, it is important to have your vehicle properly evaluated and diagnosed by a licensed mechanic.

How to Keep a Totaled Car

In Indiana, you are permitted to keep your totaled car whether it is insured or not. However, if you want to still collect from your insurance, keep in mind that they will pay you the pre-crash value, but subtract your policy deductible and the amount of money that the insurance company would have gained by selling your totaled vehicle to a salvage yard. Is this the wise way to go? It depends on your intentions.

If you want to keep a totaled car for the purpose of reselling it, you should avoid claiming it under your insurance. Instead, sell directly to an Indianapolis junk car buyer for the maximum payout. This cuts out the middleman, so you make more money!

Are you looking for a well-established and ultra-professional auto salvage yard that can pay out top dollar for junk cars and motorized equipment in Indy? Contact GC’s Junk Cars at 317-608-2188 to get paid cash on the spot by a trusted junk car buyer in Indianapolis, Indiana. We provide FREE junk car removal!

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Do You Need Car Brake Repair or Replacement?

Do you suspect that your car brakes are acting funny, but not sure which signs to look out for to confirm your suspicions? Continue reading to learn how to tell if your car needs brake repair or brake replacement, plus what you can do if the cost to repair your vehicle is simply too high.

Indiana Junk Car Buying Company 317-608-2188
Indiana Junk Car Buying Company 317-608-2188

How to Know if You Need Car Brake Repair or Replacement

It would be a perfect world if our cars and trucks never required routine maintenance and upkeep, but unfortunately that is not reality. Our vehicles require a specific level of care to preserve and sustain appearance, performance, and most importantly, safety. Routine maintenance such as windshield wiper blade replacement, radiator flushes, tire rotations, oil changes, tune-ups, and more, are critical to overall vehicle preservation.

One of the most important components to keep in a safe and functional condition is the braking system. This system requires special attention in order to keep you safe on the road and protect your investment. If you neglect your car brakes, not only can it cause extra damage to your vehicle, but it can also lead to your car being a total loss.

That is because, in many cases, when an entire braking system needs to be replaced, the cost can exceed the total value of the vehicle. In this situation, a person’s best bet is to sell their totaled car to a junk car buyer, purchase another vehicle, and then stay dedicated to a routine brake maintenance agenda to avoid vehicular damage.

Brake Pad and Brake Rotor Deterioration

To understand how to identify or look out for brake problems in your vehicle, first it is helpful to understand the basic components of a car brake system.  There are four general parts: the hydraulic clamp, brake fluid line, brake pads, and brake rotors. Some may argue that brake pads and rotors are actually part of the wheel, but in this case, we will still include them because they can influence the need for brake repair.

In most cases, the brake lines and hydraulic clamp will not experience much wear and tear; they are built to last a long time. On the other hand, brake pads and rotors are susceptible to wear and tear at all times and will need replacing every few thousand miles or so. They are exposed to deterioration every time you drive because the pad presses against the smooth metal rotor every time the brake is applied.  Over time, this pad is worn down and will make a recognizable noise to warn you that they are low.

Brake pads whine or hiss when they get low.  The noise is actually the result of the bare pad scraping against the metal rotor (the metal disk that spins on the wheel) and causing friction between them.  It can start out as a faint squeak and turn into a high-pitched squeal if neglected.

If you hear grinding, then the pad is most likely worn completely thin and is grinding against the rotor.  This can really damage the brake rotors. The thickness of the brake padding, the amount of driving you do, and the way you drive all influence the number of times you will need to replace them.

When the Cost of Car Brake Repair is Too High

If you discover that your car brakes are shot and need to be replaced, but the cost exceeds the total value if your vehicle, you can still make it profitable by selling it to an Indianapolis junk car buyer. Choose a company that has premium electronic scales that can accurately assess the value of your junk car. Then use the cash toward another vehicle!

Is your vehicle in mechanical trouble but you can’t afford auto repair? Perhaps the cost of car brake repair is higher than the total value of your vehicle? If so, contact GC’s Junk Cars at 317-608-2188 to sell your total loss vehicle for cash on the spot to our trusted Indianapolis cash for cars company!

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GC's Junk Cars Indianapolis Indiana
GC’s Junk Cars Indianapolis Indiana

How Does the Total Loss Process Work for a Wrecked Car?

When your vehicle is damaged beyond repair after a collision or traffic accident, the insurance company will label it a total loss. Additionally, your vehicle can be deemed totaled by your insurance carrier if the cost to repair it exceeds its current market value. If you have recently wrecked your vehicle, continue reading for a brief explanation on how the total loss process works for a wrecked car, plus how you can earn cash for a totaled car if it was not insured at the time of the wreck.

Cash for Cars Lot Indianapolis Indiana 317-608-2188
Cash for Cars Lot Indianapolis Indiana 317-608-2188

What is a Total Loss Vehicle?

A total loss vehicle is any car, SUV, truck, van, or motorized automobile that is so far damaged that the cost to repair it is higher than what the vehicle is valued at by the current market. So, let’s say that your wrecked car has a current scrap value of $2,400. If the cost to repair your wrecked car back to its original condition prior to the accident or collision is higher than $2,400, your insurance company will categorize it as a total loss. At this point, a few things will happen.

The Process of Filing a Total Loss Claim

The process of filing a total loss claim for wrecked car will vary depending on whether you own the vehicle or if you’re leasing or financing it. If you own your car, you can expect the total loss claim process to commence as follows:

File the Claim

First, you will report the claim to your insurance company the same day as your accident, or early the next morning. Simply give them a call (you can find the number on the back of your insurance car, within your insurance documents, or on an online directory) and tell the representative what you are trying to accomplish. They will place on the path in the direction you need to go.

Complete an Insurance Adjuster Inspection

This can depend on your particular insurance carrier, but in most cases of car accidents, the next step in the total loss claim process is to schedule an insurance adjuster inspection. This generally takes place within one or two days of the accident. Your insurance company does this to ensure that the automotive repair shop that does the damage estimate provides an accurate assessment and for the claim-related damages. This step prevents insurance fraud and deductible errors.

Rent a Car

Your insurance company may offer free rental car benefits under your policy if you file a claim for a totaled vehicle. Check with them to see if you are eligible for such benefits or if similar amenities are available to you.

Finalize the Claim Settlement

A few days after the insurance adjuster evaluates the damage to your vehicle and investigates the claim, you will be offered a settlement. In this step, you will review and finalize your total loss car insurance settlement by accepting the offer.

Locate the Car Title

After you accept and finalize the car insurance claim settlement, you will likely need to locate the car title so that you can give it to the insurance company.

Prepare Your Car for Pickup

Before you can get paid, you will need to release your wrecked car to the insurance company. Just be sure to take out all of your personal belongings and remove the license plate. When the tow truck arrives to collect your vehicle, you will need to sign some paperwork and sign over the car title.

Take Your Payment

One or two days after you release your wrecked vehicle to the insurance company, you should receive some final paperwork along with your insurance payment. This step might be done electronically, in person, or through mail. Now you can go buy another car!

Did you wreck and total a vehicle that was not covered by car insurance? Contact GC’s Junk Cars at 317-608-2188 to sell your junk car for cash on the spot to one of our Indianapolis Indiana junk car buyers! We even offer free junk removal!

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GC's Junk Cars Indianapolis Indiana
GC’s Junk Cars Indianapolis Indiana

How to Get Free Car Wreck Towing in Indianapolis

Wrecked your car and need it towed away? You can get it done right now, and for free. Scroll down to learn more.

If you have just been in a car accident, hopefully you are safe, and have been treated and cleared by a medical professional at the scene. But the same cannot likely be said about your vehicle. For minor to moderate car wrecks, you will probably need to pay to have your vehicle towed to your auto repair shop of choice. However, for cars that do not make it out on the other end, they are more of a ball and chain after a car accident. That is because you are solely responsible for having it towed to your house, which you will have to pay for out of pocket, only to then be faced with the ongoing burden of disposing or storing your totaled car later. But there is another option, arguably a better option, that will provide you with instant relief without any financial obligations.

You can get your wrecked car towed away from the scene of a car accident for free by selling it to an Indianapolis junk car buyer.

But do not fall victim to scams and bad deals! Be sure to choose the right Indianapolis cash for cars company that can actually pay you the full scrap value for your vehicle and provide free towing. Scroll down for easy, step-by-step instructions for getting started.

Get FREE Car Accident Towing in Indianapolis!

GC’s Junk Cars is Your Trusted Indianapolis Cash for Cars Company

GC’s Junk Cars are the real Indianapolis cash for junk cars professionals to trust for exceptional service, honest payouts, and plenty of client conveniences. We retain state of the art technologies and resources that reveal the precise scrap content of your vehicle, so you know you are getting an honest and fair offer. Furthermore, as true industry professionals who have a well-established reputation, we have the sufficient capital to pay the proper estimated values for junked and totaled vehicle.

We also have our own in-house tow truck, and will pick up your wrecked car for free. Not only do we pay the highest payouts for totaled cars and trucks in Indianapolis and its surrounding counties, but we also dispose of junk cars according to all Indiana EPA regulations. This means you do not have to worry about your car having any kind of negative impact on the environment.

Here’s the Step-By-Step Guide for Wrecked Car Towing in Indianapolis:

Call Us at 317-608-2188
Get a Free Phone Quote
Schedule Free Pick Up
Get Paid Cash on the Spot!

Get Started With a Free Junk Car Appraisal in Indianapolis

Call GC’s Junk Cars at 317-608-2188 to request a free quote from a trusted Indianapolis junk car buyer, today. Remember, we offer free towing with our in-house tow truck, and make the junk car selling process as easy as 4 simple steps. All you have to do is call and accept our offer. We will pick up your vehicle and then pay you cash on the spot. No located within the Indianapolis area? No problem! We also do business in all surrounding counties and neighborhoods. Request a free estimate, today!

GC’s Junk Cars
GC’s Junk Cars 317-608-2188

Does a Check Engine Light Mean My Car is Totaled?

A Check Engine Light, or Malfunctioning Indicator Lamp (MIL), is an important safety component in every vehicle. All modern make and model vehicles are designed with a Check Engine Light feature, which are incorporated to alert drivers when something is not quite right with the operation and systems in the vehicle. Because an illuminated Check Engine Light means that something is wrong, often times, car owners begin to panic when theirs comes on. Sometimes, a Check Engine Light can remain illuminated even after having a car repaired. In this situation, you might be asking yourself whether or not your car is worth repairing.

Continue reading to learn what a Check Engine Light could mean, including when it could mean that your car is totaled.

Sell Us Your Totaled Car! 317-608-2188
Sell Us Your Totaled Car! 317-608-2188

Reasons Why Check Engine Lights Come On

The spectrum of issues that cause a Malfunctioning Indicator Lamp to illuminate range from minor to major. Some vehicles have two types of MIL’s, one that is solid and one that is flashing, both of which mean different warnings. Furthermore, some cars have two different colors of Malfunctioning Indicator Lamps; a yellow icon to indicate a problem, as well as, a red icon for a very serious problem that requires you to stop driving immediately.

Here’s Why Yours Might Be On Right Now:

? Loose Gap Cap – This is by far the most common minor reason why a Check Engine Light might illuminate. If you just filled up your tank, chances are, your Check Engine Light came on because your gas cap came off.

? Spark Plugs – If your car jolts or vibrates as its operating, and the Check Engine Light comes on, it could mean that your spark plugs are defective. If your car is driving abnormally, immediately pull over and call a tow truck.

? Low Fluids – If your vehicle is low on radiator fluid (coolant), motor oil, or another vital automotive fluid, your Check Engine Light might come on. Have your oil changed, and during the appointment, have all other fluids flushed and replaced.

? Oxygen (O2) Sensor (O2) – If your Check Engine Light comes on, and you know it’s not the gas cap or fluid levels, it could be because your oxygen sensor needs to be replaced. This part is responsible for measuring the level of unburned oxygen in the exhaust system.

? Catalytic Converter – If your catalytic converter is experiencing any type of problem, your Check Engine Light will let you know.

? Mass Airflow Sensor (MAF) – Another common cause for an illuminated Check Engine Light is a defective mass airflow sensor (MAF). If this sensor is the problem, a simple replacement will turn that Check Engine Light back off.

When it Means a Car is Totaled

There are cases in which an illuminated Check Engine Light can mean that a car is totaled. If the Check Engine Light comes on because of something that requires extensive repairs or replacements that cost more than the overall value of the vehicle, the insurance company will likely deem the car a total loss. See our blog, “FAQS About Total Loss Cars and Claims” to learn more about total loss vehicles.

What You Can Do With a Totaled Car

Call GC’s Junk Cars at 317-608-2188 to get paid cash for your totaled car in Indianapolis. Our Indiana junk car buyers offer free towing with our in-house tow truck, so all you have to do is call and accept our offer! We will schedule a time to pick up your vehicle and pay you cash. No title? No problem! Give us a call anyway! Call 317-608-2188 to request a free estimate, today.

GC’s Junk Cars
GC’s Junk Cars 317-608-2188

Is a Car Totaled if the Airbag Deploys?

Determining whether or not a car is totaled is usually the job of your insurance adjuster. Whatever they say goes in terms of the condition of your car and how much it is worth. But many car owners often confuse themselves when it comes to airbag deployment. Most people assume that if an airbag deploys, a car is instantly rendered a total loss; but this is not always the case.

Continue reading to learn more about the link between airbags and totaled cars.

Indianapolis Junk Car Buyers 317-608-2188
Indianapolis Junk Car Buyers 317-608-2188

Average Cost of Airbags

Airbags are not cheap. They can cost up to $1,000 just for the part; then you have to pay for labor, as well as, any damage done to the dashboard and steering wheel. Overall, you can expect an airbag replacement and repair to cost at least a few thousand dollars.

All insurance companies deem a car a total loss if the cost to repair it back to its condition prior to the accident exceeds the actual cash value (ACV) of the vehicle prior to the accident. Most states set the limit between 50% and 80%; here in Indiana, it’s 70 percent. So if an airbag deployment renders a vehicle so damaged that the cost to repair it is more than what the car is actually worth, it will be deemed a total loss and given a salvaged title.

However, a deployed airbag does not always cost more than a vehicle’s cash value. In some cases, the cost to replace an airbag and reconstruct the dashboard and steering platform does not exceed the fair market value of the vehicle. This is usually common among newer model vehicles, and brand new vehicles.

For instance, if you have a 2015 Lincoln Navigator, the cost to replace a deployed airbag would not cost tens of thousands of dollars, which is what a Navigator of that model would probably sell for. In contrast to this example, smaller or lighter vehicles, like a new Hyundai Accent, would likely be totaled if the airbag deployed because more damaged would be done.

Total Loss Automotive Claims

The first step to the automotive claims process is to contact your insurance provider to schedule a time to have the condition of your vehicle evaluated by an adjuster. They will determine, along with their appointed auto body experts, whether or not your vehicle is a total loss. If it is a total loss, they will tender your policy limits.

If you wish to keep your total loss vehicle, you must buy it back from the insurance company by paying them the actual cash worth, minus your policy’s deductible. Usually, you just forgo the payout they offer for the vehicle; you don’t actually pay your insurance company out of pocket. Upon keeping your totaled car, the DMV will issue it a salvaged title.

Get Top Dollar for Your Totaled Car in Indianapolis

Cash for Junk Cars 317-608-2188
Cash for Junk Cars 317-608-2188

Call GC’s Junk Cars at 317-608-2188 to quickly and conveniently sell a totaled car in Indianapolis. We offer free towing with our in-house tow truck, so all you have to do is call and accept our offer! We will schedule a time to pick up your vehicle and pay you cash. Call 317-608-2188 to request a free estimate, today.

General Qualities of a Total Loss Car

If you have just walked away from a recent car accident scratch-free, but the same cannot be said about your vehicle, it is important to learn whether or not your car is a total loss. Continue reading to learn what it means to have a total loss vehicle, and what you can do if this is your current situation.

Sell a Totaled Car

Call Us to Sell a Totaled Car in Indianapolis! 317-608-2188

Total Loss Vehicle

A vehicle can only be deemed a total loss by the insurance company. An insurance adjuster will come out to inspect the vehicle and determine whether or not it is totaled. A total loss vehicle is one in which the cost to repair it back to the condition it was in before the accident is MORE THAN the market value of the vehicle before the accident. For instance, if your car is worth $3,000 on the current market, but after your accident, the total cost of repairs is estimated to be $4,400, then the car is totaled.

What To Do With a Totaled Car

You generally have two options when your car is deemed totaled by your insurance carrier. You can either file the claim to receive compensation from your insurance provider (the amount of compensation will depend on various factors, including your particular policy terms and the market value of your vehicle), or you can refuse to file it with your insurance and keep the car. If you choose to file a claim with your auto insurance carrier, they will take the vehicle, title, keys, and license plate out of your possession.

If you do not file with your insurance carrier and decide to keep the vehicle, you will receive a new car title that shows the total loss. This is called a salvage car title. You will need this salvage car title if you want to sell your totaled vehicle. You can choose to sell a totaled vehicle privately, among the local community, but you will have better luck selling it to a professional junk car buyer in your town. Depending on your policy benefits, you may get more money for your totaled car through an Indianapolis Cash For Cars Company, rather than an insurance claim.

We Will Pay Top Dollar for Your Totaled Car!

Cash for Junk Cars 317-608-2188

Cash for Junk Cars 317-608-2188

Call GC’s Junk Cars at 317-608-2188 to sell your totaled car for cash in Indianapolis. We offer free towing with our in-house tow truck, so all you have to do is call and accept our offer! We will schedule a time to pick up your vehicle and pay you cash. Call 317-608-2188 to request a free estimate, today.