Is My Car Safe to Drive After an Accident?

Of course, the answer to this question completely depends on the specifics of the accident that your vehicle was in. However, if you have any question as to whether it is safe to drive or not, it is always a good idea to have it inspected! Your collision technician can tell you if it is damaged beyond repair or not.

Once your vehicle has been inspected and, if necessary, repaired, is it safe to drive? There are a few things you can do and questions that you can ask during the repair process to help ensure that it will be.

Ask your technician what kind of parts can be used to repair your vehicle.

There are several different ways that repair shops can fix the broken parts of your car. They can repair them, they can replace them with aftermarket or recycled parts, or, they can replace them with original equipment manufacturer (OEM) parts.

Each of these has different benefits and drawbacks, from cost to safety to compatibility. However, OEM parts are not always safest, and recycled parts are not always the most affordable. Discuss your options with your technician.

Work with a repair shop you know and trust.

If possible, work with repair technicians that you know, or that you have been referred to. Especially with modern vehicles, it’s important for repair technicians to have the proper training to work on today’s vehicles and fix them to meet the current safety standards.

Ask and understand what happened, what is being repaired, and what needs to be replaced.

Even though you trust your technician, you are the one who will be driving your vehicle, and the best way to ensure that it’s repaired well is to be involved in the process. A great technician will answer any questions you have, explain to you what is wrong and how it should be fixed, and involve you in any major decisions that need to be made.

Listen to your vehicle.

Often, listening to your vehicle and paying attention to the way it drives are the best ways to tell when something is wrong. Even if you’ve taken your vehicle to a shop that you trust and you’ve been involved in the repair process, it can’t hurt to ask or have it checked out if you think there is an issue.