> **Quick Answer:** Do not drive it. A deployed airbag means your car was in a significant impact. Even if the engine runs fine, the steering column may be compromised, the airbag system is now useless, seat belt pretensioners have fired and won't restrain you in a second crash, and there may be fuel system or structural damage you can't see from the driver's seat. Get it towed.
## Can I Drive My Car If the Airbag Deployed But It Still Starts?
No. The car running does not mean the car is safe to drive. Airbags deploy at a threshold impact, typically around 8 to 14 mph in a direct frontal collision, and that same force does damage beyond what the engine cares about. The seat belt pretensioners fire at the same time as the airbags. They are single-use pyrotechnic devices. After deployment, they will not lock or retract properly, meaning you are riding unrestrained in everything but name.
The airbag control module also stores a crash event code. On most modern vehicles, the SRS (Supplemental Restraint System) warning light stays on after deployment and the system will not rearm until the module is replaced or reset by a dealer-level scan tool. You have no working airbags for any second collision.
## What Damage Should I Assume Happened That I Can't See?
Assume more than you think. The most common hidden problems after airbag deployment are a bent or cracked radiator support, a shifted subframe, a damaged steering rack, and fuel system disruption. Many vehicles built after 2010 have an inertia fuel shutoff switch that cuts the fuel pump after a significant impact. If yours didn't trigger it, that doesn't mean the fuel lines or tank are undamaged.
Check under the car quickly before anyone decides to move it. Fluid pooling (coolant is green or orange, fuel is clear with a sharp smell, oil is dark brown) tells you a lot. If you see fuel on the ground, stay away from the vehicle and keep bystanders back.
The steering column is another concern. Collapsible steering columns are designed to compress during a crash to protect the driver. A column that has partially collapsed may still turn but can fail completely under stress. That is not a risk worth taking on a public road.
## Is It Ever Okay to Move the Car a Short Distance?
Only to get it out of immediate danger, like off an active lane of traffic, and only at low speed for a very short distance. If the car is in a safe position, leave it and call for a tow. If you must move it, keep it under 5 mph and go only as far as the nearest safe pulloff. Do not drive it to a shop, home, or anywhere else.
Before you move it at all, check that the hood latch didn't pop. A hood that flies up at speed is immediately fatal. Push down on the hood and make sure it's fully latched.
If the crash happened on a highway and traffic is moving around you, your priority is getting yourself and any passengers away from the vehicle and behind a guardrail or well off the shoulder. A second impact from passing traffic is the most dangerous thing you face right now. The same principle applies after any breakdown: see [Car Stalled in Intersection: What to Do Right Now](/car-stalled-in-intersection-what-to-do/) for how to handle being stuck in or near moving traffic.
## Who Do I Call and What Should I Tell
*Photo: Pexels*
the Tow Company?
Call 911 first if anyone is injured or if the vehicle is blocking traffic. Then call a tow truck. Tell the dispatcher that the airbags deployed. This matters because the tow operator needs to know if the vehicle has a damaged steering rack (affects how they attach and steer it during loading), if all four wheels roll freely, and whether it needs a flatbed rather than a wheel-lift truck.
A flatbed is almost always the right call after an airbag deployment. Wheel-lift towing puts stress on a drivetrain and frame that may already be compromised. If your insurance includes roadside assistance, this tow is almost certainly covered under your collision claim. For questions on who pays for the tow after an accident, see [Tow Truck Cost After Accident Not My Fault: Who Pays?](/tow-truck-cost-after-accident-not-my-fault-who-pays/)
Once the car is at a body shop or mechanic, the repair list will likely include a new airbag module, new airbags (driver and passenger, sometimes side curtain), new seat belt pretensioners, and a structural inspection. Do not let anyone reset just the module and sell you the car back without replacing the physical airbag canisters and belt pretensioners. Resetting the light without replacing parts is illegal and dangerous.
*Photo: Pexels*
## Common Questions
**Q: My airbag deployed but my car only has a small dent, is it really that bad?**
A: Yes. The size of external damage does not reflect internal damage. Airbags deploy based on deceleration measured by crash sensors, not by how big the dent looks. The structural and safety system damage is the same regardless of visible bodywork.
**Q: Can I replace just the airbag and drive it again?**
A: You need to replace the airbag canisters, the seat belt pretensioners, and the airbag control module, and the car needs a structural inspection. Replacing only the airbag bag itself while leaving a fired pretensioner or a crash-coded module is not a complete or safe repair.
**Q: Will my insurance cover a tow after the airbags deploy?**
A: If you have collision coverage, yes, the tow is typically covered as part of the collision claim. If you have a separate roadside assistance rider, that may cover it independently. Call your insurer from the scene if you can do so safely.
**Q: The airbag light was already on before the crash. Does that change anything?**
A: It makes the situation worse, not better. A pre-existing airbag warning light means the system had a fault before the collision. You may have had airbags that were already non-functional, meaning the system gave you less protection than expected. Get a full SRS diagnostic done as part of the post-accident inspection.
**Q: How much does it cost to repair a car after airbag deployment?**
A: Budget $1,000 to $3,000 for airbag and pretensioner replacement alone on a typical sedan, not counting body or structural repairs. On some vehicles with side curtain airbags and complex modules, total SRS repair costs can reach $5,000 or more. Many insurers total the vehicle if the airbags deployed and the car has significant mileage or pre-existing value loss.
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Airbag Deployed Car Still Runs: Can I Drive It?
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