Does Your Salvage Car Have These Safety Features?

Consider this scenario: you just found the car of your dreams — only to discover that it comes with a salvage title.

A salvage title can radically change your perspective of a car. In many U.S. states, a salvage title indicates that the car has zero insurance value, has been significantly damaged or was reported as stolen. However, that doesn’t mean that the car is a lost cause. Sometimes, a car suffers extensive but superficial damage, (as in the case of fire damage) and all it is key electronic and mechanical features still remain intact.

Car manufacturers these days offer unmatched driving quality that comes with comprehensive safety features. Online car auctions buy cars that have salvage titles and sell them at reduced prices. When buying a car from an auction, look for a salvage car that has some of these key safety features.
 

A rearview camera comprises several sensors as well as a camera on the back of the car and its display on the dashboard. This is one of the key safety features that you can find in salvage or used cars. The camera allows you to get a clear visual of your car’s blind spot and prevent you from accidentally running over small objects or animals behind your vehicle. It is also ergonomic since you don’t have to crane your neck into impossible positions to look behind you, while you are reversing.

Side airbags protect your head and shoulders, in case of a collision. There are two types of side airbags: one that comes out from the seat or door trim and protects your torso and another that deploys from the side windows. The airbags that deploy from the door trim do not do much to protect the head, in case of a car accident. However, common curtain airbags which cover the side windows can protect a person from roadside debris and from injuring their head. They also prevent a person from being thrown out of a car in case it rolls over.

The auto emergency braking system allows the car to automatically apply brakes, in case of an imminent, crash, if the driver’s response is not quick or sufficient enough. At low speeds, cars can apply AEB to prevent collisions or nonlife-threatening injuries. At high speed, cars can scan up to 200 meters using long-range radars to prevent high-speed crashes. To avoid hitting pedestrians, the AEB scans the road and estimates relative pedestrian movement to avoid an accident. Car brands like Audi, BMW, and Ford all have AEB under different names and you can check for this feature when bidding for salvage cars online.

Although a seat belt is a car’s most important safety equipment, there are some that come with advanced features, like the pretensioner. Seatbelt pretensioners can save your body, particularly the neck and shoulders, from injury during a crash. The safety belt pretensioners can sense vehicle deceleration, in an event of a collision, and instantly retract the belt fabric to keep the person firmly pressed to their seat. These pretensioners are accompanied by force limiters that distribute the force that the seatbelt builds on a person’s chest.

Daytime running lights or DRL are low beam headlights that are on during the day. They are very helpful during days when visibility is low, for example during dawn and dusk hours when road lights are off or during cloudy weather. A sensor detects the ambient lighting and if it is sufficiently low, automatically turns on the DRL for additional road safety.

The electronic stability control, also called electronic stability program or dynamic stability control, is designed to detect and reduce skidding, in case of loss of traction. The ESC is very helpful in slippery conditions, like snowfall or rain. In heavy top vehicles like SUVs, the ESC helps maintain balance and prevent it from rolling over.
Since ESC also comes under different proprietary names, ask your auto auction dealership if a vehicle has it. All cars and light-duty trucks came equipped with the ESC system by 2012 but some SUVs put it on even earlier.

The blindspot detection system gives the driver a 360-degree view of the car’s surroundings. Developed about ten years ago, BDS detect any and all cars that are coming from behind or trying to overtake your vehicle. The BDS can signal this by sending a warning light on the side view mirror, sounding a beep, or vibrating the steering wheel, in case of an impending collision. When buying a salvage car from an auction, make sure it has the blindspot detection system.
The affordable cost of a car is a huge incentive when making buying decisions. However, don’t let cost compromise your safety. Fortunately, RideSafely.com has got you covered. Participate in our online car auctions and find the car that is the best fit for you.