Do dealerships buy cars with body damage?
Asked by: Beulah Johnston | Last update: November 8, 2025Score: 4.9/5 (42 votes)
Will a dealership take a car with body damage?
Most car dealers will take virtually any car in trade. They not give you very much for your repaired car it depends on the damage suffered. A significant collision repair will definitely affect the car's value.
How much does body damage affect car value?
But the extent to which your car's value decreases will depend on a variety of factors, including the severity of the damage, the type of repair that's needed, and even the age and make of your vehicle. That being said, most collision repairs won't cause your car to lose more than 50% of its pre-collision value.
Can you sell a car with body damage?
Yes, you can sell a car with structural damage, but there are important considerations to keep in mind: Disclosure: Legally, you may be required to disclose any structural damage when selling the vehicle, especially if the damage affects safety or the car's value.
Who pays the most for damaged cars?
CarBuyerUSA is your “Damaged Vehicle” headquarters. No other Car Buying Company pays more for damaged cars. CarBuyerUSA will buy anything from a rollover to a Range Rover and has paid up to $35,000 for wrecked or inoperable vehicles – including Jaguars and Maserati's.
Dealership vs Independent Body Shop- Collision
How to get the most money for a wrecked car?
To get the most money from your insurance for a totaled car, research your car's value independently, document its condition with supporting records, and provide evidence for a higher payout.
What company will pay the most for your car?
Cars.com, Carvana, Peddle, and CarMax are some of the best places to sell a car online. Peddle is good for junk cars, Carvana is the most convenient, CarMax offers top value, CarGurus has a strong platform, and Vroom has an easy selling process.
Is it worth buying a car with body damage?
Is it worth buying a car with body damange? It depends. If the body damage is minor, the vehicle history report explains the type of accident, and everything else checks out; there should likely be no issue buying a car.
Can I sue a dealership for selling me a salvage car?
You have a right to rescind the purchase (i.e., get their money back), and may have a right to additional money damages through a lawsuit. You can file a complaint with the California Department of Motor Vehicles.
Do dealerships fix body damage?
There are some repair shops that only do collision repair and auto refinishing. There are some dealerships that have their own collision repair facilities. The quality of the repairs can vary from one facility to the next. Where I live here in California, the Honda dealer is the largest dealership in the county.
Does body damage go on Carfax?
How Does Damage Get Reported to CARFAX? Many auto body shops, especially dealerships or larger repair chains, report repair data directly to CARFAX. This includes details such as the type of repairs performed and any parts replaced.
Will body damage fail inspection?
Body damage
Minor dings and dents aren't typically counted against you in a vehicle inspection. If the damage is extensive enough, however, it may become a potential obstacle to passing.
Will insurance cover car body damage?
The insurance company will pay for your auto body repairs if it's your fault and you have comprehensive and/or collision coverage.
How much does body damage devalue a car?
A car typically loses 10% to 30% of its value after an accident. In some cases, the loss can be as high as 50%, depending on the extent of the damage. For example, if your vehicle was worth $20,000 before the collision, you could lose between $2,000 and $6,000 in value due to the diminished value claim.
Will a dealership buy a car that needs repairs?
Many individuals trade in previously owned automobiles specifically due to the problems. Your dealership will need to do an evaluation of your vehicle to provide you an exact trade-in value, but the basic rule of thumb is almost any kind of dealership will trade in any type of automobile as long as it is driveable.
Will dealerships buy damaged cars on Reddit?
Yes, dealers will take it. Dealers will take ANYTHING. But the amount they pay for anything will depend on the condition and resale value.
Can a dealership sell a car with damage?
If a car dealership sold you a car that was in an accident or if a dealer sold you a car with structural damage, frame damage, or other substantial damage without disclosing it to you, then you may have a claim under California law.
Can you trade in a salvage car at a dealership?
A salvage car can be unsafe to drive, but it may be valuable to a buyer. You can trade in a totaled car if a dealership sees a potential to profit by fixing it up or selling the parts.
Is it easy to sell a salvage car?
Most buyers knowing that it's a lost cause car will offer you pennies on the dollar of it's worth. If you are really lucky you may find naive individual willing to pay you half what it's worth. Most states let you sell them to either a wrecking or salvage yard. You won't get much.
Does dealership warranty cover body damage?
Some auto service contracts will extend the length or coverage of the warranty that came with your vehicle, and others will cover some maintenance tasks like scheduled oil changes. They typically don't cover damage that may occur in an accident or normal wear and tear to the vehicle.
Does damage to a car decrease value?
When a car is involved in an accident, its value inevitably declines. The degree of depreciation, known as diminished value, depends on several factors including the severity of the damage, the quality of the repairs, and the vehicle's age, make, and model.
How bad is it to buy a car with frame damage?
A small amount will likely have no lasting impact on the safety and drivability of the vehicle. Still, if the vehicle suffered significant frame damage, it may not be safe or reliable enough to take home.
Who offers the most money to buy your car?
CarMax: Top Value
In our secret shopper comparisons, CarMax gave us the best value for our vehicle. While it's worth getting quotes from multiple sources, our team found that CarMax offers competitive rates for used cars.
Does CarMax pay more than Carvana?
Key findings. Carmax offered the highest prices for used cars among its competitors, nearly $1,000 more than both Carvana and Vroom. Between Carmax, Vroom, and Carvana, Carmax offered the highest amount for used vehicles 63% of the time.
What car company gets the most money?
- SAIC Motor. ...
- BMW Group. ...
- Honda Motor. Revenue: 121.8 billion $ ...
- General Motors. Revenue: 122.5 billion $ ...
- Ford Motor. Revenue: 127.1 billion $ ...
- Daimler. Revenue: 175.9 billion $ ...
- Toyota Motor. Revenue: 249.4 billion $ ...
- Volkswagen Group. Revenue: 254.1 billion $