Do people buy cars with dents?

Asked by: Prof. Deshawn Beier III  |  Last update: August 6, 2023
Score: 4.5/5 (10 votes)

A car that has any kind of body damage does not have the same resell value as a similar car without damage, even if some repairs have been made. You should only buy a car that has been dented, dinged, or has other noticeable flaws if the seller is willing to negotiate the price in your favor.

Do dents affect car value?

An average accident can decrease a car's value instantly (and permanently) by 10 – 25% annually, whereas an accident that only creates light damage (such as light scratches or small dents that don't impact the paint) will only decrease its value by 5-15%.

Can you sell a dented car?

Visible damage like a dent, if it's major, is a turnoff that you should avoid. A good-looking car will attract more buyers and encourage a faster sale. Fixing even the smallest dent is worth it!

Are car dents a big deal?

It Can Lead to Higher Repair Costs

As discussed, small dents can become much greater issues when left unaddressed, which is why fixing them immediately is ideal for drivers. Promptly fixing your dents will help you avoid more serious damage and save you money on repair costs.

Should I get dents fix before selling car?

There is a lot of competition in the car selling industry. So it is very important to make a good first impression on customers looking at your car. Any visible dents or dings are a major turnoff that you should avoid. A car that looks good will get you more buyers and will make it a quicker sale.

Using Boiling Water and a Plunger to Remove Car Dents - Does it Work?

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Will a dent affect my trade in value?

Answer provided by. A good rule of thumb is if the dent is visible from about 10 feet away or if the paint has scratches, it can cause a 5%-10% depreciation of your car's value.

Is it worth fixing a dent?

Unless the dent or scrape is very minor (and therefore very cheap to fix), older and less-valuable vehicles probably won't gain much value from a repair. You're often better off just keeping your money and living with the scrape and the knowledge that your car is a little less perfect than it was yesterday.

How much does it cost to pop out a dent?

The dent repair cost may range from $50 to $2,500. Although that's a broad range, most small dents that are roughly an inch in size may cost around $50 to $125. Small indentations may come from a flying rock or piece of hail. Dents stemming from a collision are typically larger and cost $150 or more.

Can all dents be repaired?

Larger dents can cost considerably more. And know that not all dents can be perfectly repaired, even by a specialist—and if the paint is scratched they can do nothing about that.

Does CarMax buy cars with dents?

"Minor imperfections have little impact on our appraisal offer, but major defects like frame or flood damage do," says Tom Marcey, CarMax's vice president of regional merchandising. Once one of our appraisal team has looked at your car, they'll let you know what your car is worth and will make an offer.

How do you pop out dents?

First, heat the dent with the hairdryer approximately six inches away for about 30 seconds. Then cover the dent with a piece of aluminum foil and rub dry ice over it. The rapid change from hot to cold should make the dent pop out within a minute or so. Another temperature trick involves boiling water.

Is it worth it to repair car scratch?

While minor surface scratches, those that can be buffed out by hand, typically do not create a risk for rust, deeper scratches should be fixed right away to avoid this issue. The longer a car has a deep scratch on its surface, the more water, dirt, road salt and debris will reach the metal and contribute to rust.

Should I worry about a small dent in my car?

It's important to have your car dents repaired as soon as possible to prevent further damage from impacting your car. Small, quick repairs can be completed if the dents are taken care of quickly, so it's important to be proactive.

Is it better to repair car before trade in?

While it might seem smart to fix as much as you can before taking in your car to your local dealership, major repairs aren't worth the extra effort for the following reasons: You will spend a lot of money on major repairs, possibly a majority of or even more than how much you will get from the trade-in.

How big can dents be repaired?

Most minor dents can be repaired by the dent repair experts at Dented so long as the paint is still intact, and the dent isn't too complex in nature. Since paintless dent repair can remove 80-90% of dents, it is the best way to get a dent out of your car.

Do dent pullers work?

Do they work? Dent pullers only work on shallow dents that are positioned on a flat, flexible surface. They can improve the appearance of car dents but are unlikely to create a perfect finish. Unfortunately, DIY dent pullers will not work on deep, angular dents or damage along the edges of bodywork.

What do you do if you find a dent in your car?

Steps to Take When Someone Dings or Dents Your Car
  1. Record information. If the driver who dents your car takes off, write down as much information as possible. ...
  2. Call the police. Even if you don't have much information, it's important to file a police report. ...
  3. File an insurance claim.

Are dents covered in car insurance?

In a nutshell, small dents/scratches on your car's surface does not require a car insurance claim. In fact, it is best to refrain from raising a claim in such a scenario, as you may otherwise lose a lot of money.

Does hot water really fix dents?

Use boiling water

It can also be used to potentially remove unwanted depressions in your vehicle, that is, as long as you have a plastic bumper and are successfully able to access the dent from the backside.

How long does it take to fix dent in car?

For traditional car dent repair, you're probably looking at between 2 days and 2 weeks. If the damage qualifies for Paintless Dent Repair, the dent could be fixed in as little time as an hour. Car dents could take a few hours to repair or they could take a couple of weeks.

What causes car dents?

If you're parked under a tree, small tree branches and even acorns can fall with enough force to leave dents in your car. Additionally, if you're parked under a high-rise building, any object that falls from such a height can hit your car with enough force to cause a dent.

When should you stop spending money on an old car?

When repair costs start to exceed the vehicle's value or one year's worth of monthly payments on a replacement, it's time to break up with your car, according to automotive site Edmunds and Consumer Reports, the product review site.

Can small dents in cars be fixed?

Boiling Water– Heat from the boiling water weakens the dent so it can be put back in place. Plunger– Car owners push and pull a plunger on top of the dent to pull it out of the auto body frame. Dry Ice– Dents that are not too deep into the frame can fix themselves with the dry ice method.

Is scratching your car a big deal?

A small scratch can be a big deal when it's on your beloved automobile. Even if it's in a place where most people will never see it, you know it's there. And you want to do something about it before it turns into a more serious issue.