December 10, 2025 | Car Insurance
Were you involved in a motor vehicle crash? You need compensation to pay your repair bills. In Oklahoma, your vehicle may be declared a “total loss” at a lower threshold than you expect. If the cost to repair the vehicle is 60% (or more) of its fair market value, it is legally a total loss in Oklahoma. That means your vehicle is not going to get fixed. Instead, your claim will be for compensation for the value of your property damage. Here, our Oklahoma City car accident lawyer provides a guide to total loss claims in Oklahoma.
What is a Total Loss?
As a starting point, it is important to understand the concept of a “total loss.” A vehicle is a total loss or simply “totaled” when it has been deemed not economically sensible to repair it as a matter of state law. When the cost of repairing it after an accident exceeds a certain portion of its actual cash value (ACV) prior to the crash, Oklahoma law instructs insurers to pay out compensation so that the owner can replace the vehicle with one of similar value instead of getting it repaired.
Know the Oklahoma Total Loss Threshold: 60%
Our state has one of the lowest total loss thresholds in the entire country. Many people in Oklahoma City are surprised to learn that their car has been declared a total loss after a crash that did not seem to be quite that bad. Under Oklahoma law (47 Okla. Stat. Ann. § 1111(C)(1)), the total loss threshold is 60% of the vehicle’s fair market value. In many other jurisdictions, it is 70, 75, or even 80%. However, in Oklahoma, 60% is enough for a total loss as a matter of law.
What does this actually mean? If the estimated cost of repairs equals or exceeds 60% of the car’s value before the accident, it may be declared a total loss. For example, imagine you were involved in a crash at an intersection in Oklahoma City. The insurance company assessed that your vehicle was worth $20,000 before the crash. If the repairs are expected to cost $12,000 or more, the insurer will deem your car a total loss. It will not be repaired.
What Happens After a Car is Declared a Total Loss in Oklahoma?
Oklahoma law mandates that a vehicle deemed a total loss must be reported as such. The title must be branded accordingly. Once the car is declared a total loss, the insurer must apply for a salvage title or junk title on the owner’s behalf. If your car has been declared a total loss, your insurer must offer a settlement based on the vehicle’s actual cash value before the crash. An attorney can help you ensure that you are receiving a full and fair settlement offer for your vehicle.
Schedule Your Free Consultation With Our Oklahoma City Total Loss Attorney Today
At McGuire Law Firm, we fight for justice for victims and families. If your vehicle was declared a total loss after a crash, please do not hesitate to contact us for a free, no-obligation case review. It is our goal to help you secure the maximum compensation. We handle motor vehicle accident claims in Oklahoma City and throughout the entire surrounding region.