Even a driver with extensive experience can one day find himself “broke” - and not in a figurative, but in a literal sense. What should a motorist do if the car cannot be restored after an accident? Sell for parts or whole? To deregister or not?
A car that has received significant damage as a result of an accident is often beyond repair. The bottom line is that repairing such a car will be unreasonably expensive - more than its actual value in good condition.
Should I get rid of it immediately after an accident or wait?
Before deciding what to do with a pile of crumpled iron, you need to figure out where to store it, because the selling and insurance process can take some time. It is advisable to tow the car to a garage or secure parking lot. If you leave the car on the side of the road at the scene of an accident or in the yard of a house, then the matter may not come to a sale - it will be stolen for spare parts within a day.
There is another option - an urgent buyout. That is, the buyer can pick up the car by calling on the day of the accident - some companies even provide a free tow truck. The procedure in this case is as follows: a specialist comes to the scene of the accident, examines what is left of the car and names his price. Of course, due to the urgency, the amount proposed by the appraiser may be several times less than the real one (provided that the car owner himself will handle the sale).
Perhaps the most common option is to sell a damaged car for parts. However, before the “sale” begins, you will have to take some actions
If a CASCO insurance policy was issued for the car, the insurance company can reimburse part of its cost - then the amount of money from the sale of the car and insurance payments may well be enough for a car of the same class and price category.
How to sell a car after an accident
If restoring a damaged car is not profitable, then the only option left is to sell the damaged car in order to compensate for the losses at least partially. And the larger this part is, the better.
So, how to sell a car that isn't running?
You may consider a recycling program that is available if:
- the car is no more than ten years old;
- the weight of the machine does not exceed 3500 kg;
- the car belongs to the owner for at least 12 months.
The recycling program can only bring the owner of a damaged car a discount of 50 thousand rubles on the purchase of a new car, but only if the dealer takes part in the program. In this case, it is necessary to issue a power of attorney for the dealer, draw up an agreement on responsible storage and carry out a number of procedures related to deregistration. Only then will a disposal certificate be issued. This option can be called profitable only conditionally and only because the owner is relieved of the hassle of disassembling and storing a faulty machine.
How and to whom can you sell a used car?
There are several options for selling a used car. The first has already been named - to sell the car to a company specializing in buying used vehicles. This option will require the least effort, however, the price offered by buyers will be minimal.
You can start selling the car yourself, provided that at this time it will rest in a garage or in a guarded parking lot under polyethylene. One way is to sell the entire car. In this case, the buyer may be a car enthusiast who is ready to restore the vehicle step by step. This option is most relevant in the case of German and Japanese cars from the 90s or simply rare models. In addition, car enthusiasts buy damaged cars entirely to use them as spare parts donors.
You can take your car in for scrapping. This means that the person involved in the sale will receive a percentage separately from each unit sold
The second option is to sell the car in parts. To do this, it is recommended to deregister the car with the traffic police before the start of the “sale”. The advertisement should indicate which components and assemblies of the vehicle were most damaged as a result of the accident, and which remained unharmed. By the way, selling a car in parts will bring more profit, although the sales process itself may be delayed.
Another option is to take the car for scrapping. In this case, the craftsmen to whom the car owner entrusts the sale of spare parts will receive a percentage of each unit sold. However, in this situation, the motorist does not control either the progress of sales or the prices requested by the masters.
Is it possible to drive a car safely and legally after an accident?
Everything will depend on what kind of damage was caused to the car. If there are small dents and this does not affect the general technical condition of the car, then you can drive.
Paragraph 2.3.1 of the traffic rules states that before leaving, the driver must check the working condition of the car and the serviceability of all systems.
There is also a list of malfunctions and conditions under which the operation of vehicles is prohibited, namely:
- Malfunctions of the brake system.
- Failures in the steering system.
- Faulty or missing external lighting fixtures.
- Windshield washers and windshield wipers.
- Tires and wheels.
- Car engine.
- Other structural elements (for example, signal or rear view mirrors, etc.).
You cannot drive the car until it is repaired, only after repair and restoration of all damaged elements. According to Art. 27.13 part 1 of the Code of Administrative Offenses of the Russian Federation, if the following malfunctions are detected, the car may be seized.
Using a car is not prohibited if the consequences of the accident did not affect:
- car control systems;
- driving performance;
- driver visibility.
For example, there may be minor damage to the body that does not affect the driving performance of the car.
Before examination
An examination of the car by the insurance company must be carried out within five days after submitting the application and all documents about the accident. After this, the damage will be assessed and compensation will be paid.
It is highly not recommended to repair the car before the examination. In general, it is better not to use it until this moment. Even if the accident did not affect the driving performance of the car. In the accident certificate, the traffic police officer lists all the damage received.
If even one new scratch appears, the insurance company will refuse to pay compensation.
That is why it is better not to use the car during these five days before the examination. If a traffic police officer stopped you on the way to an examination, he needs to provide the necessary documents to prove this.
If it is running and without painting
There are no direct prohibitions on driving a car without painting. Accordingly, if the examination has been carried out, then while you are waiting for compensation, you can continue to use your car.
However, some inspectors may still wonder why the vehicle is not painted. You will need to give a reason. But they have no right to charge you any fine. And, moreover, you should not be detained on this matter.
With a non-working headlight
According to traffic rules clause 2.3.1. Before leaving, each person driving a car is obliged to check the serviceability of his car. This is indicated in the main provisions for the approval of absolutely all vehicles for their use on the road.
The duty of officials to ensure traffic safety. Also monitor the technical condition of the vehicle.
If any breakdowns occur along the way that prohibit further use of the vehicle, they must be repaired immediately.
If it is currently impossible to carry out troubleshooting actions, then you need to go to the place of repair or parking.
But it is important to take all precautions. It is best to drive slowly with your hazard lights on.
Otherwise, the driver faces a fine of 500 rubles , which is established by law (Article 12.20 of the Code of Offenses since 2015).
Previously, the fine was 100 rubles . Warning the driver is a mandatory action of the traffic police inspector. At the same time, in order to withdraw the fine, he must warn the driver that driving in this condition is strictly prohibited for the safety of himself and others.
If you get into an accident, the best option is to leave the car in the parking lot for some time after the accident and not use it.
At least until an examination of the damage received is carried out. It is advisable not to operate the vehicle until it is completely restored.
If life circumstances do not allow you to wait so long, then you need to make sure that the damage received allows you to use this car and does not contradict the traffic rules.
Should I deregister?
There is an important nuance in the issue of selling a used car - this is the registration of the sale. First of all, you should deregister the car yourself. Traffic police inspectors must check to see if all formalities related to the accident have been resolved. If the buyer plans to subsequently sell the damaged car for spare parts, registration of the vehicle will no longer be required.
So, the owner of a damaged car has several options on how to get rid of the “piles of iron.” Some options require a minimum of effort, as is the case with buying companies, and some will bring the owner good money, but can take a lot of time - for example, selling a vehicle for spare parts.
Is it possible to receive compensation under compulsory motor liability insurance and how?
Compensation for damage under OSAGO in a situation where the car was parked near the road in the yard and was scratched is possible in one of the following cases:
- the driver who hit the car in the yard and fled the scene of the accident was found and has a valid compulsory insurance policy;
- the offender’s car is identified by license plate or other characteristics, and the owner of the car has compulsory motor liability insurance;
- people were injured during the accident.
If the victim has CASCO insurance, he will in any case receive payment if he registers the incident.
Intruder detected
If the traffic police are working properly, the offender will be promptly identified and found, even if the accident occurred late at night. In such a situation, the victim has the right to count on financial compensation if:
- the offender has an issued MTPL policy;
- the found driver is officially recognized as the culprit of the accident (a decision or ruling has been made against him).
It is possible to receive an insurance payment in a situation where the culprit is found according to the following scheme:
- request from law enforcement agencies a copy of the resolution and documents confirming the guilt of the other party.
- write an application for compensation of damage to the insurance company.
- submit all documents and application to the Investigative Committee.
The license plate number of the violator’s vehicle was recorded by cameras or witnesses
If the culprit of the accident fled the scene of the accident, but the license plate of his car is known, then, according to the current court practice in 2021, the owner of the car will be held responsible.
The fact is that the Civil Code of the Russian Federation prescribes the possibility of recovering damages from the owner of a source of increased danger in cases where the cause of harm has not been identified. We described this situation in detail in an article about the culprit who fled the scene of an accident.
There are victims in the accident
According to Article 18 of Federal Law No. 40, in 2021, financial compensation to the victim is provided even in cases where the culprit has disappeared or does not have a policy. However, there are also disadvantages:
- compensation is paid only to persons who were physically injured, that is, we are talking only about parked cars in which people (driver and/or passengers) were sitting;
- Damage to the car will not be taken into account when calculating the insurance payment.
To receive compensation, the injured person should collect all health certificates, treatment documents and papers from the traffic police. After this, you must contact the RSA with a claim for compensation.
