Does a Car's Trade in Value Drop If It Has Been Repaired After an Accident?

Sometimes your past comes back to haunt you. This isn’t just true when it comes to your life; it’s also true when it comes to your car. If you’re finished with your current vehicle and looking to trade it in, the dealer may get a vehicle history report. Any accidents you’ve had that involved an insurance claim will be on the report. Unfortunately, even if damage from an accident was properly repaired, it may still lower the trade-in value.

Even though it won’t restore your car’s value, you should still complete any repairs recommended by your mechanic. This ensures your car is in good working order and safe to drive. Your repairs may be covered by either your auto insurance or the auto insurance of the other driver, depending on who was at fault. The insurance company may also require that you get the car repaired at a specific location. Keep the receipts for all your repairs.

As you get ready to trade in your vehicle, check to make sure there aren’t any outstanding recall notices. If there are, get the recall repairs done before you trade in the car. Clean and detail your car before you take it to the dealer. Present the dealer with proof of the completed repairs. Although this doesn’t guarantee you’ll get the highest trade-in value, it might help bump up the price. If you’re not happy with the trade-in value of one dealer, try one or two more to see if you can get a better deal.

If you were in an accident and it wasn’t your fault, you might be able to file a diminished value claim with the at-fault party’s insurance. This type of claim compensates you for the lost value of your car due to an accident. To file a claim, get your car repaired and appraised. Compare the appraised value to the value of your car before the accident. If your car was worth $10,000 before the accident and is now appraised for $7,000 after repairs, you may be able to recover up to $3,000.

Be prepared to show the insurance company the appraisal along with proof of the car’s value before the accident. You will need to be persistent and follow up with the insurance company regularly. Each company has its own formula for determining diminished value, so you may not get the full difference.