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Selling A Car After An Accident
After a car accident, one of the biggest concerns many drivers face is the future value of their vehicle. “Can I sell my car after an accident?” and “What’s my car worth now?” are questions that arise immediately. The reality is, whether your car suffered minor cosmetic damage or was declared totaled, its post-accident value will almost always be lower due to something called diminished value. In this refreshed guide, we’ll explore what impacts a car’s value after a crash, whether it’s worth fixing, and the best ways to sell it if repairs just don’t make sense.
What Is My Car Worth After an Accident?
The impact of an accident on your car’s resale or trade-in value depends largely on the severity of the collision, the quality of repairs, and the vehicle’s title history. A minor fender bender with superficial repairs may not significantly drop the value—especially if done professionally. However, if your car experienced structural damage or required panel replacements, it could lose 30% to 50% of its pre-accident value.
In more extreme cases, where a vehicle is declared a total loss and carries a salvage title, you’re looking at serious devaluation—sometimes up to 60% off retail value. This loss is further amplified when potential buyers or dealers see the accident report listed on CarFax or AutoCheck.
Ultimately, how much your car is worth after an accident comes down to the diminished value, a term used by insurers and appraisers to estimate how much value your vehicle has lost because of accident damage even after professional repair.
Is It Worth Fixing My Car After an Accident?
Even if your car is expertly repaired by an I-Car Gold certified shop, its value will never truly return to its pre-accident state. Why? Because once damage is recorded in vehicle history databases, your car’s marketability drops. In fact, up to 55% of used car buyers actively avoid vehicles that have been in accidents.
Let’s say you repair your car perfectly, it drives well, looks new, and has zero mechanical issues. Unfortunately, if frame damage or airbag deployment occurred, that info stays permanently on its history report. This can reduce resale value by 25% to 40%, depending on make, model, and year.
For older vehicles or those with high mileage, the repair cost may approach or even exceed the vehicle’s market value. In such cases, it’s often better to explore cash value sale options than invest in repairs that won’t return your money.
How to Sell a Car After an Accident
If you're holding onto a wrecked or heavily damaged vehicle, selling it may be more beneficial than repairing it—especially if:
Repair costs exceed 60–70% of its current market value
It has a salvage or rebuilt title
The accident affected structural components or electronics
Conclusion
The bottom line? Accidents leave a lasting mark on your vehicle’s value—whether the damage.was cosmetic or structural. While minor repairs may still yield a decent resale, serious damage can significantly limit your selling power. Before spending thousands on repairs, it’s worth getting an accurate valuation and exploring your options.
If you’re ready to move on from your damaged car and skip the stress of negotiations or costly repairs, services like DamagedCars provide a safe, fast, and fair alternative.
Can You Trade In A Car After An Accident?
You can trade in a car after an accident. However, be aware of how much value your car loses after an accident, and the fact that most dealerships don’t specialize in accident-damaged cars. Your car’s valuation after an accident may be significantly lower than you expect.
An easier way to get a decent amount of cash for your car is to use a service that specializes in buying damaged and totaled vehicles, such as DamagedCars.com. We buy cars with problems every day, and can make an offer on your vehicle in just 90 seconds with free title transfer and free towing included!
Is My Car Worth Less After An Accident?
Yes, cars will lose value after an accident. But how much does a car lose in value after an accident? That depends on the severity of the accident and the condition of the car prior to getting in a wreck, but you can typically expect it to drop in value by at least half.
The easiest way to find out what your car is worth post-accident is to get an offer from DamagedCars. We can calculate its value in just 90 seconds and issue an offer that’s guaranteed for seven days, with free towing and title transfer included.
Can You Sell A Car That's Been In An Accident?
Yes, you can sell a car that was involved in an accident, but not to the usual car buyers. While a handful of dealerships may be willing to make an offer on a damaged vehicle as a trade-in, the majority do not specialize in accident-damaged cars and will not be able to truly figure out how much less your car is worth after an accident.
Instead, you should turn to services that specialize in buying cars that have been damaged, such as junkyards and online car buyers. There you can get a better offer for your vehicle, and the business will typically be prepared to think about necessary arrangements such as towing your car to the lot.
Who Will Buy My Crashed Car?
We will! DamagedCars is happy to make a fair market offer on your crashed car, no matter what year, make or model it is. It takes just 90 seconds to get an offer, and all our quotes include FREE towing and title transfer!
Get an offer from us today and you could get paid in just 24 to 48 business hours.