One major reason (beyond expense) that Insurance companies write of a vehicle with certain damage, is liability. Todays chassis are designed and engineered to crumple an exact way in an accident, routing the force of the collision around the passenger compartment, to protect the vehicle occupants. It's only designed to do this once. If there is chassis damage that looks like it has compromised the main crumple zones, Insurance companies consider that none-repairable, and will salvage the title. A shop may be able to repair the vehicle, make it drive straight and true, with no problem. But in an accident, where the original chassis would have crumpled as designed, and kept you or your passengers alive or uninjured, the repaired version won't. Have seen it happen where what was originally a 5 star crash-rated vehicle crumple up like a beer can on one side, because the chassis had been compromised in a previous accident and "repaired". The repair shop that "fixed" the vehicle was sued and went out of business, but the money received in the settlement wasn't worth the life of the driver. Why do you think they make them put "salvage" on the title and won't let it be removed even if the vehicle has been repaired? :roll:
