Car accident - damage might be > value of car...what's my play?

[JCool]

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In addition, purchasing a car is VERY -EV. Buy purchasing anything worth more than $4k, I immediately have to absorb more depreciation over the next few years than I would have with my current car.

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I think you are failing to recognize just how much a "majorly repaired" car depreciates in value. I'm no expert but i would guess chop another 50 percent or more off the value of the "repaired" car and depreciate from there.