What Is Frame Damage?
Frame damage is defined as any compromise to the support structure of the vehicle. This includes the damage caused by third party involvement, accidents, and/or “Acts of God.” To get a definite repair estimate, you would need a thorough diagnostic done on your damaged vehicle.
Frame damage can be incurred by a myriad of things:
- Potholes/dips in the road
- Railroad tracks, traffic barrels, and other unexpected obstacles
- Speed bumps
- Collisions
Ultimately, frame damage runs the gamut from minor dents to completely crumpled and bent frames. A mechanic must get underneath your vehicle in order to accurately examine and define what kind of damage your car has suffered.
Repair Costs for Frame Damage
You can expect repairing your car’s frame to be an expensive undertaking. Even the smallest of damage done to your vehicle’s frame can cost hundreds of dollars, with more severe damage repairs skyrocketing to several thousands of dollars.
In the most extreme cases, frame damage will total the vehicle. A totaled vehicle is when the cost of repairing the vehicle exceeds the value of the vehicle. It’s usually in your best interest to not attempt to repair a totaled vehicle; the cost just outweighs the value too much for it to be a worthwhile investment.
The time it takes to repair a car’s frame also depends on what type of frame it has. There exists a myriad of frame types, with the two most common ones being the unibody frame (where the frame and chassis are one piece of metal) and the ladder frame (shaped like…well…a ladder).
Each of these car frames requires a different approach to fix and, for more exotic frames, it may not even be possible to repair them.
Can I Sell A Car With Frame Damage?
Absolutely. You can absolutely sell a car with any number of issues, however selling a car with structural damage is a little more niche. Depending on the extent of the damage, it may not be considered salvageable. You would, then, need to acquire a salvage title for your vehicle.
Dealerships, while typically open to trade-ins, won’t want to deal with cars with severely damaged frames. The cost of repairs is just not something the dealerships will want to take on, especially with the massive hit the car’s value has already taken.
Junkyards specialize in taking on cars that have been deemed…well…junk. They’ll purchase your vehicle and let the working components be parted out before recycling the rest. A vehicle with severe frame damage will fetch its weight in metal from scrap yards.
DamagedCars makes it our mission to make selling a damaged car easier for sellers; frame damaged cars included. With our state of the art pricing system, we can ensure that you get a satisfactory offer for your frame damaged vehicle within 90 seconds.
Once you contact one of our associate buyers, they provide you with an offer on your vehicle for FREE. There’s zero obligation to accept it; the offer will remain valid for up to one week, giving you ample time to compare and contrast with other providers.
Once you do accept it though, you’re connected to one of our nationwide service providers in your area. With them, you can schedule a pick up for your vehicle within 24-28 hours. You receive your payment at the time of pick up; no haggling, just a check for the agreed amount.
Reach out to DamagedCars today and get your frame damaged vehicle taken care of!