Should you sell your car after an accident?
Asked by: Queen Kilback | Last update: October 15, 2025Score: 4.9/5 (54 votes)
How much is my car worth after an accident?
How Much Does an Accident Devalue a Car? A car can lose 10% to 30% of its value after an accident, with potential losses as high as 50%. 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.
Is it worth keeping a car after an accident?
Keep in mind, if the repair costs are significant, they may exceed the car's current market value, making extensive repairs financially impractical. In such cases, it might be more reasonable to consider replacing the car with a newer model.
Should I repair body damage before selling a car?
Whether you are trading in a car that is in good shape or trading in a car with body damage, you should fix minor things to make your car as presentable as possible. This can maintain or increase the trade-in value.
Can I sell my car after an insurance claim?
If you own your vehicle outright – with no loan payments pending – your car is yours to sell at any time, and the fact that you have an auto insurance claim pending has no bearing on this fact. This said, however, selling your car before your car insurance claim is finalized can seriously complicate the claims process.
What is your car worth after an accident?
Is it illegal to sell a car that has been in an accident?
Any significant damage should be disclosed. In some jurisdictions, it may be unlawful to sell a car without disclosing significant accident damage. And regardless of where you're selling your car, any car buyer can purchase a detailed accident history report that will list all the collision repairs on your vehicle.
Can I sell my car if it is totaled?
In most states, you are allowed to retain a salvage vehicle and sell a salvage vehicle.
What not to fix when selling a car?
What should I not fix in my used vehicle before selling it? If your car is having engine issues of any kind, they're probably not worth fixing. If the engine is knocking, jerking, making strange sounds, or emitting strange fumes, it's best to just cut your losses.
Should I take my car to the dealer for body work?
If you want to save money, you're typically better off going to an independent shop. Because of their higher overhead costs, dealerships often charge higher prices. At a dealership you'll be getting service that's specialized for your vehicle, but that doesn't necessarily equate to better technicians.
Is it better for a car to be totaled or repaired?
Repairing your vehicle is cheaper than taking out a loan or paying monthly payments on a brand-new vehicle. It is often in the best interest of the insurance company to total a car, so you will need to look out for your own best interests.
How to sell an accident car?
Oftentimes, a car buying service can offer you more value when you're looking to sell a damaged or totaled vehicle. Private buyers may offer you more money than a dealership but the process of selling to a private buyer is often time-consuming and difficult.
How much should I sell my damaged car for?
Current junk car prices in 2025 range from $50 and $3,000, but heavily depend on multiple factors. Newer vehicles can go for much more than $3,000. In most cases, the average price for junk vehicles falls within the $100 – $500 range.
Do Fender benders show up on Carfax?
Do fender benders show up on Carfax? The Carfax Vehicle History Report will not include the record of a minor accident like a fender-bender if there is no official documentation. However, there is a bigger concern if the accident was not just a fender-bender but caused significant damage to the vehicle.
Is it worth repairing a car after an accident?
If the cost of repairing your current vehicle is minor then there's no need to purchase a new car. However, It might cost you more to repair a car that's been heavily damaged in a collision. The initial repair might not cost as much as a new car but some cars are never the same after a major car accident.
How much does a car lose in value after an accident?
Following a motor vehicle accident, the car itself typically loses approximately 10% to 30% of its value following the damage. However, the loss of value can be as much as 50%, depending on the extent of your damage.
When should I not trade in my car?
If you have a car loan, check if trading in the car after two years would result in positive or negative equity. If the equity is negative (i.e., you'd still owe money on it after you traded it in), considering waiting to trade it in when the equity would be positive.
Will a dealership take a totaled car as a trade in?
Can You Trade In A Totaled Car To A Dealership? Many dealerships would be very reluctant to accept a vehicle with a salvage title. If they do accept it, chances are they'll provide an extremely low trade-in value for the car, since they cannot easily put it back on the lot to sell to someone else.
Should I sell my car if I barely drive it?
Deciding to Sell or Store Depends on How Long and the Costs Involved. One of the first things you should consider is how long you will not be driving the car. If you're talking about a couple months, by all means store it, although it's always better for a car to be driven at least on a weekly basis.
Should I sell my broken car or fix it?
When the cost of repairs is higher than the car's market value once repairs are complete: Many cars depreciate 20% within one year and another 15% each year after that until the car is four or five years old. If the cost of the repair is close to or exceeds the value of the car, consider selling it.
Is it worth fixing dents before selling a car?
Generally, small dents may result in a minor reduction in trade-in value, ranging from $100 to $500, depending on the location, visibility, and extent of damage of the dent(s). Moderate-sized dents, such as those that require professional repair, can lead to a reduction of up to $1,500.
Is it better to have a car totaled or repaired?
the value of the car, you should really push to have the car totaled. A car which requires a significant amount of repairs is never the same.
How much is a car worth if its totaled?
The insurance company will consider the actual cash value given by both adjusters to decide what your vehicle is worth. Investopedia explains that the actual cash value (ACV) is the resale price of your vehicle before it was involved in a major accident.
Can you sell a car with an insurance claim?
You can sell your car if you have an open insurance claim, however it's not always a good idea. Your insurance company likely needs to survey the damage to your car as part of the claims investigation.