Are European cars that are 5+ years old, more likely to be declared salvage in an accident?

Actually no. I own a vw jetta 2003 and I have been in an accident. As bad as the accident was my frame actually saved all my engine and my transmission and everything. The car needed minor repairs just body. And it works and looks better. I had tried to look for parts at the junk yards but I hardly found any foreign cars. Usually people who buy that type of cars have money for the maintenance and parts. I love my jetta and it has taken some hits with not many repairs.

You are using the wrong term. Salvage isn't the right word.

When the damage from an accident exceeds 75% of the fair market value of the car the insurance company declares the car a total loss. It isn't cost effective to repair the car so they declare it a total lose and make you an offer to replace the car. It is defined as TOTALLED by the industry.

SALVAGE is something completely different. A salvage car is one that has already been declared a total lose by the insurance company but some independent rebuilder buys the car from the junk yard, repairs it and tries to resell it. They cannot resell the car legally until the title is reclassified as SALVAGE in order to protect car buyers from buying a car that was rebuilt.

So your question really means are European cars more likely to be rebuilt than comparable cars from Japan or the USA. I don't think so. The most popular salvage cars are Japanese sports cars because they are popular and the young men who buy them don't care about the history of the car, all they want is something fast and cheap.

If you want to know if European cars are declared a total lose more often the other cars the answer is probably YES because they do depreciate faster and the cost of parts and repairs is higher.

Depend on how much damages from accident.

But yes if cost repair higher than values of car then sure write off.

After write it off, they take car to junkyard as salvages. They will try sell it first before scrap it to max the profit.

There is some bodyshop employees who love to buy salvages for very cheap then fix it all on their own at home garage.

I'll say your assumption is correct.

Also because of safety design, the car takes the punishment instead of the people inside. 8 airbags and energy absorbing chassis will total the car.