Is My Car Worth Repairing After an Accident? (Free Cost Comparison Tool)

After an accident, one of the first questions most drivers ask is simple but a source of concern and worry: Is my car worth repairing, or should I just sell it? The answer depends on repair costs, your car’s value, and how the damage affects safety and resale. This guide breaks it down for you so you can be secure in your decision. A free estimate from Cash for Cars can help find out what your car is worth after an accident to help with those tough questions and planning . We’ll give you a repair estimate and cash value for your car as-is within 30 seconds. All you need to do is enter your license plate or vin and zip code, we’ll take care of the rest.

Insurance vs out-of-pocket

Unfortunately, just because you pay for insurance doesn’t mean that the repairs you need are covered. If you go through with filing a claim you may still have to pay your deductible, increased insurance premiums and out-of-pocket costs for items insurance wont cover. If you opt to not use insurance and decide to pay cash, you will avoid premium increases but if the repairs you need are large, you could quickly be faced with thousands and thousands of dollars’ worth of repairs. In this instance, you need to ask yourself whether you would rather spend the money to repair the vehicle or put the money toward getting rid of it and getting a new car.

Diminished value after an accident

When considering repairing your car or selling it, one thing you should always remember is that even after hiring a professional and paying thousands in repairs, a car that has a history of accidents is worth far less than one that’s never needed any repairs. Buyers are constantly paying attention to accident reports, airbag deployment reports and structural or frame damage.

Time with car

When it comes to repairs, one of the biggest frustrations is the time it takes to get the repairs done. Delays can happen for various unexpected reasons, such as parts shortages, paint and body labor time, frame or sensor calibrations, insurance approvals. While you’re waiting you would most likely need another source of transportation and that can cost you a substantial amount of money.

Resale impact of repairs

There are various levels of repair, some can seriously damage your car’s overall value, while others don’t affect the value at all.