You can sell your car after an accident, but it can quickly get complicated.
First, you’ll have to find an interested buyer. Then, depending on your state’s laws, you’ll likely have to disclose that the car was in an accident, where the buyer may decide they’re not interested.
Additionally, you’ll have to understand what constitutes a fair value for the vehicle, along with how to transfer the car’s title.
For many, this is just the start of a long and arduous process. Yet, if you’re looking to sell your car after an accident, you have options. You could spend months posting and reposting your car online.
Alternatively, you could sell your car to a service that purchased cars like yours guaranteed.
How to Sell a Car With an Accident History
Selling a car with an accident history is a multi-step process, some of which include:
Taking the car to a mechanic. When selling the car, you want to accurately describe exactly what’s wrong with it. Sometimes, accidents only result in cosmetic damage, which may not affect the resale value as structural damage would.
Disclosing that the car was in an accident. Depending on your state, you may have to disclose that the car suffered damages in a collision. By bringing the car to a mechanic, you can have a full understanding of the car’s condition, including what work it may require in the future.
Price the car accordingly. You don’t have to practically give your car away just because it was in an accident. It could still be worth thousands of dollars, depending on its age, mileage, and manufacturer. With some online car appraisers, you can get a fair offer on your car in seconds.
Advertise honestly. While you should share that the car was in an accident, you could emphasize other positives about the car, including its low mileage, recent upgrades, and age.
Be open to negotiating. Everyone wants to feel like they’re getting a good deal, even if they’re just getting a fair one. So, you should be open to potential buyers wanting to negotiate. Just be sure not to leave too much money on the table.
Can I Trade in a Car With an Accident History?
Whether you can trade in a car with an accident history depends on the dealership. It’ll likely consider many factors when deciding whether to make an offer, including:
The severity of the car’s damage
The circumstances of the accident
The car’s make, model, and mileage
The market’s current supply and demand
Don’t be surprised if the car dealership turns you down. While this may initially prove frustrating, you still have options for selling your car.
How Does a Car Accident Affect Resale Value?
A collision can significantly affect a car’s resale value. How much the resale value decreases depends on:
The accident’s type. If your car was in a fender-bender, this probably won’t bring the resale value down much. Matters change if you were in a head-on collision, and the car’s front was destroyed.
Whether the car is totaled. After an accident, your insurance company may deem the vehicle a total loss. In that case, it costs more to repair your car than it’s worth. This can significantly drive down the vehicle’s resale value.
The car’s damage. As noted, many car buyers don’t have problems with cosmetic damage. A ding or scratch there probably won’t affect the vehicle’s value; smashed in windows likely will.
You can’t tell a car’s resale value just by looking at it. When you consult with an appraisal service, it’ll consider many things when estimating its value. An accident can decrease a car’s value from anywhere from a few hundred to a few thousand dollars.
Sell Your Accident Damaged Car With DamagedCars!
With DamagedCars, you can make your dream of selling your car a reality. Rather than endless posting your car online, you can get a guaranteed offer within 90 seconds.
Here’s a rough outline of what to expect:
Get the quote. You visit DamagedCars.com and enter some simple details about your car and get an offer based on the information you share.
Schedule the pickup. If you like our offer, we help you schedule the pickup for your vehicle.
Collect the check. Finally, just wait for the driver to arrive. Hand over the keys and title, and you’ll get paid on the spot!
This may seem too good to be true––but it’s not. DamagedCars has been in operation since 2007, providing customers with quotes, pickups and payments for their damaged vehicles.
When you request a quote, there’s no obligation. Turn that clunker in your garage into cash today with DamagedCars.
