Every year automakers introduce amazing technology innovations for vehicles, such as devices that help drivers see better, eliminate blind spots, get better mileage, or eliminate the use of gasoline altogether. But these technologies could come at a high cost if they break or are damaged in a collision, as many of them cost a bundle to replace. Therefore, it is important for insurance appraisers to acquire sufficient knowledge about collision repair procedures for these types of vehicles.

Even the most common repair or replacement can cost a shocking amount to fix. My daughter constantly loses the keys to her 1993 Volvo, so I went to the hardware store to have several copies cut. The cost was a reasonable $1.50 per copy, which frankly makes me wonder why I waited so long to get around to it. However, I would be singing a different tune if we owned a new Volvo. This is because it would cost a cool $350 to replace the keyless entry for a new Volvo — and that's not even the most expensive key on the market.

In fact, an owner of a high-end luxury car like the Mercedes SL might have to shell out close to $1,000 to replace a keyless entry card, and keys aren't the only parts with rising price tags. I recently replaced the shattered sealed beam headlamp on a project car I'm restoring and didn't mind paying a reasonable $7.50 at the local auto parts store. Had I owned a Cadillac Escalade, that halogen headlamp unit would have cost $765. Keys and headlamps aren't the only pricey items, according to a list complied by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). This list highlights high-tech items that could be damaged in common collisions, and the prices are astounding — that is for each part, without factoring in labor. Just how astounding are the customary prices? Check out these replacement costs for various luxury-car components: