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What happens if your muffler falls off? What do you do?
Help! I was driving home from the grocery store and heard a loud noise from underneath me. My husband looked under the car when we pulled over and found the muffler was missing. It fell right off! What happens if your muffler falls off and what are you supposed to do about it?
Matt Terzi · Updated on
Reviewed by Shannon Martin, Licensed Insurance Agent.
Here’s what you should happen if your muffler falls off:
- Pull the car over and turn off the engine as soon as you can do so safely.
- Don’t leave your muffler in the street. It puts other drivers at risk. Mufflers weigh 10 to 20 pounds. You can put it in your trunk if it’ll fit, or move it to the side of the road. If it’s not safe to move the muffler, notify the local police so they can help.
- Take your car to a mechanic as soon as possible, and avoid driving the car until you can.
Your muffler has three mission-critical jobs:
- It protects you and others from inhaling toxic fumes
- It reduces the volume of pollutants the car is putting into the air
- It reduces how noisy the car is
Not only is replacing your muffler important for your health, but it can also prevent you from dealing with hefty fines. Most communities throughout the United States have noise ordinance laws, and many states prohibit driving without a muffler or with a damaged muffler.
Muffler replacement costs vary wildly based on the type of exhaust, ranging anywhere from $100 to $1,000. But most drivers will end up paying under $300 to have their mufflers replaced. That means in some areas, the fees for driving without a muffler might exceed the cost of replacing the muffler. So save yourself that headache and get this fixed fast.
Speaking of saving money, it’s a good time to make sure you aren’t overpaying for
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Jerry partners with more than 50 insurance companies, but our content is independently researched, written, and fact-checked by our team of editors and agents. We aren’t paid for reviews or other content.
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