buying a car that was totaled

There is a local dealership that buys cars from insurance that have been totalled, then repairs and fixes them and sells them much below what I've seen for other used cars. The dealership has been around for many years and offers a warranty on the cars, and encourages me to have my own mechanic check it out before I buy. I'm not interested in reselling after I purchase, so resale value is not too important to me. The vehicles I'm interested in are 2005 Toyota Corollas and Honda Civics. The salesman told me that because the way those cars are constructed, that even if a part of the frame is damaged, it can be replaced without replacing the entire frame, unlike other types of vehicles. Has anyone had any experience with purchasing from a similar type of operation?

I don't know about buying a totaled car, but I own one. Its a Buick though, not Honda. I would research Hondas and see if that's really true. You could always ask a mechanic or a dealership. Make sure you ask why and HOW it was totaled. A stolen car will have a salvaged title and only a broken window, while others may have much bigger problems. Lucky for me the Buick had a crumpled hood and fender. No radiator, engine, or frame damage.


I'd say if they encourage you to take it to your own mechanic then they should be honest, but don't take their word for it. Find a mechanic and have it checked out. If it's all okay you could have found a good deal.