* The car's value: A $5,000 car will be totaled with far less damage than a $50,000 car. The key is the cost of repairs relative to the vehicle's pre-accident value.
* The insurance company's calculation: Insurance companies use a formula, often involving the cost of repairs (including parts and labor), the salvage value (what the car is worth after the accident), and the car's pre-accident market value. If the cost of repairs plus the salvage value is greater than or equal to a certain percentage (usually around 70-80%, but this can vary by company and state) of the pre-accident value, the car is typically totaled.
* The severity of the damage: A single, major collision can easily total a car, while multiple minor fender benders might not. The location of the damage is also critical; frame damage is far more likely to result in a total loss than cosmetic damage.
* Availability of parts: If parts are difficult or expensive to source, that can push the repair cost higher, increasing the chance of totaling.
In short, it's not about a specific dollar amount or number of accidents. It's about the *ratio* of repair costs to the car's value as determined by the insurance company's assessment. One significant wreck *can* total a car, but so can accumulating a series of smaller repairs that add up to exceed the total loss threshold.
