The Industry Has Changed—And So Should Our Definition of “Drivable”
Think your car is safe just because it starts? The truth about “drivable” could cost you time, money, and safety after a crash.
When I first got into the collision repair industry, there was an unspoken trick to landing a job from a walk-in customer: find a reason to classify the vehicle as a non-drive.
We weren’t trying to mislead anyone—it was just how the game was played. A broken headlamp, cracked taillight, damage to the driver’s door, or a popped hood latch were all reasons to say, “This car isn’t safe to drive. Let’s get you into a rental and start the repair process.”
Back then, pre- and post-repair scans weren’t part of everyday conversation. We weren’t calibrating forward-facing cameras or discussing radar alignment. ADAS systems weren’t even on the radar. Conversations about insurance coverage were minimal—you dropped off your car and trusted your policy would cover it.
The reality is, we weren’t wrong for the time. But we weren’t exactly right either.
Fast forward 20+ years, and everything has changed. Vehicles are more complex, insurance carriers are more aggressive about managing costs, and the stakes for vehicle safety are higher than ever.
That’s why we’re having this conversation now—because understanding what “drivable” really means could save you from unnecessary risk and serious financial consequences.
A family rides through the city in a visibly damaged Toyota Corolla—underscoring the risk of misclassifying a vehicle as ‘drivable.
The Hidden Costs of Calling a Car "Drivable"
It’s tempting to assume that if your vehicle starts, steers, and rolls, it’s drivable. That’s exactly what insurers and even some repair shops will tell you.
But using “drivable” as a blanket term glosses over critical safety concerns and creates a domino effect of financial consequences:
1. Rental Coverage Gets Cut Off
Insurers often stop rental reimbursement once a vehicle is considered roadworthy. If your car is marked as drivable—even prematurely—you could be left without transportation. I can recall countless conversations where the insurer refused rental coverage over the weekend simply because the vehicle was dropped off on a Friday instead of a Monday.
2. Storage Fees Shift to You
If your vehicle is considered "safe to move," insurers may refuse to continue paying storage fees. That means you pay the bill until the car is relocated—whether you’re ready or not.
Under one insurer's policy it reads:
"If the covered vehicle sustains loss for which we make a payment under Comprehensive Coverage or Collision Coverage, then we will pay reasonable expenses incurred to:
tow the covered vehicle…
store the covered vehicle, if it is not drivable immediately after the loss, at:…"
3. You May Be Forced to Tow It Yourself
Once labeled as drivable, insurers may deny any further towing assistance, forcing you to coordinate it yourself—or worse, drive a potentially unsafe vehicle.
4. You Could Be Driving a Ticking Time Bomb
Many hidden failures don’t trigger warning lights. Faulty seatbelts, misaligned ADAS sensors, even compromised crumple zones can go unnoticed without OEM-required diagnostics and inspections.
General Motors mandates specific inspections and OEM part usage after a collision to ensure airbag systems and occupant safety features perform as intended
Manufacturers Aren’t Guessing—They’re Requiring Inspections
OEMs (Original Equipment Manufacturers) have invested billions in vehicle safety systems. After any collision, even minor, many now require specific post-collision inspections before a vehicle can be declared roadworthy.
Some examples:
General Motors (GM): Requires inspection of the steering column, safety belts, restraint system modules, and crash sensors—even in low-speed events.
Subaru: Mandates steering column inspection, seatbelt pretensioner checks, airbag sensor testing, and SRS diagnostics before returning a vehicle to service.
Ford & Honda: Provide flowcharts for post-collision evaluation, including structural verification, ADAS calibration, and full diagnostic scanning—even when the vehicle appears fine.
This isn’t overkill—it’s necessary. Modern vehicles don’t wear their damage on the outside anymore.
What Insurance Coverage Hinges On
Insurance policy benefits like towing, storage, and rental are often governed by a section called Supplementary Payments. But eligibility for those benefits often hinges on whether your vehicle is deemed drivable.
Common policy stipulations include:
You must “mitigate losses” by relocating the vehicle if it is drivable
You may forfeit storage coverage if you “refuse reasonable movement”
Rental reimbursement may end once the vehicle is deemed usable
If a repair facility marks your vehicle as drivable based on appearance instead of inspection, you could lose out on coverage you were entitled to.
Real Talk: From Gut Instinct to OEM Data
One of the unique privileges of working with collision centers across the country is the people you meet—and the stories you collect along the way. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard a painter or a technician say, “I’ve been doing this longer than you’ve been alive.” And at the time, maybe they weren’t wrong, but I had to laugh.
Early on, I used to get frustrated hearing that kind of pushback. But over time, I learned to lean into it.
I remember one exchange vividly. A painter was adamant that his way was the right way—because he’d been doing it for years without a problem. I smiled and replied, “That’s awesome! I’ve never had the chance to spray lacquer—what are you painting? Maybe you can show me.”
The room went quiet. A few people smirked. Because anyone in the business knows lacquer hasn’t been used in decades, and the fact is, the painter has had to change with the times.
This section of a real insurance policy shows that storage and towing costs are only covered when a vehicle is considered not drivable immediately after the loss.
Point is: we all have different backgrounds, but the car we’re working on today isn’t the same car we worked on even five years ago. WE HAVE TO CHANGE!
So let’s be honest, after more than 25 years in this industry, even I’ll say: the game has changed.
That being said, in the early days, I’ll admit, we relied on instinct. You’d glance at the car, maybe jiggle the hood or crack a door open, and decide whether it felt safe enough to drive. But those days are over.
Today, we don’t go by feel—we go by procedure.
If the manufacturer says the radar needs to be recalibrated after bumper damage, you don’t guess, you do it!
If the OEM says to pull the steering column and measure it, you do it!
And it’s not just theory—real cases have proven what happens when these steps are skipped.
Mike Anderson, from Collision Advice, wrote an article highlighting instances where undeployed airbags were found damaged during post-collision inspections—even though no official deployment had occurred. If those inspections hadn’t been done, the owners would have unknowingly driven around in vehicles with non-functional airbag systems.
So if your shop—or your adjuster—is still playing it by ear and stuck on how they’ve always done it, it’s time to hit pause and start asking better questions.
6 Questions to Ask Before Anyone Calls Your Car “Drivable”
Before accepting that your vehicle is drivable, ask your repairer:
Have all OEM repair procedures been reviewed and properly followed?
Have pre- and post-repair scans been completed?
Has the vehicle been fully measured for structural misalignment?
Have post-collision inspections—steering column, restraint systems, ADAS components—been completed? Ask for your manufacturer’s exact requirements.
Have seatbelts, sensors, and crash detection systems been checked per OEM guidance?
Was a wheel alignment and ADAS recalibration performed? Can you see the reports?
If the answer to any of these is “not yet,” “it wasn’t needed,” “your insurance company didn’t authorize it,” or “we only do that if there’s a warning light,” do not accept the drivable label!
In fact, those answers should raise serious concerns about the repair facility you’ve chosen.
Your safety—and your claim—depend on getting this right.
Misclassifying a Vehicle Is More Than Inconvenient—It’s Dangerous and Can Cost You
I recently reviewed a claim involving a vehicle repaired at a dealership—a place most people assume is trustworthy. Unfortunately, the shop made repair decisions based on assumptions about what the insurer would or wouldn’t cover.
They repaired parts that should have been replaced, skipped structural measurements, missed critical damage, and ignored required safety procedures. As a result, the ADAS sensors were misaligned and multiple safety systems went unverified. But that’s just the start… Now the owner is facing serious coverage issues, and has incurred significant out of pocket expenses, not to mention time that the family will never get back.
A completely avoidable mess—caused by poor decisions and lack of accountability.
Non-Drive Status Isn’t About Inflating a Claim
Some insurers may suggest that shops classify vehicles as non-drivable just to extend rental benefits or inflate repair costs.
Let’s be clear: Declaring a vehicle non-drivable is about protecting lives and honoring policyholder indemnity. If critical inspections haven’t been done or safety systems remain unverified, that vehicle does not belong on the road.
Non-drive status isn’t an exaggeration. It’s compliance with manufacturer standards, and often, the law.
How Collision Claims Advisors Supports Both Shops and Vehicle Owners
At Collision Claims Advisors, we bridge the gap between proper repair, policy language, and consumer protection.
For Repair Facilities:
We offer consultative services to improve throughput, reduce insurer friction, ensure compliance with OEM standards, and serve as a trusted resource for:
Post-repair inspections
Right to Appraisal (RTA) support
Diminished value evaluations
Total loss appraisals
For Vehicle Owners:
We help you make informed decisions about how and where your car is repaired. If something doesn’t feel right, or you’re being pushed to drive a car you’re unsure about, we’ll help assess and document the situation so nothing is missed or misrepresented.
Whether you’re fixing the car or trying to get it fixed, we make sure it’s done right—and documented right.
Final Thoughts: From Misconception to Protection
The word “drivable” seems harmless. But it can cost you thousands—and worse, put lives at risk.
Ask the right questions. Demand the right documentation. Don’t let anyone put your car back on the road until it’s truly safe to be there.
Quick Reference: Collision Safety Checklist
Before accepting that your vehicle is drivable:
✅ Pre- and post-repair scans are complete
✅ OEM procedures have been reviewed and followed
✅ Structural alignment has been inspected
✅ Restraint systems (seatbelts, airbags) have been verified
✅ ADAS recalibration has been performed and documented
✅ You have supporting documentation on file
Coming Up Next…
Think You’re Covered? The Collision Repair Myth That Could Cost You
Many drivers assume their insurance policy guarantees quality repairs. But the truth might cost more than you think. Our next article dives into the myth that "coverage equals protection"—and how to protect your investment.