When you get into an accident that's not your fault, you'll typically use the other driver's liability insurance to cover your damages and make you whole. Unfortunately, your only option following an at-fault accident is to rely on your collision coverage to make repairs. If you don't have collision coverage, you'll need to cover the damage out of pocket.
However, accident repairs are rarely cheap. Something as seemingly minor as a scratch can cost over a thousand dollars, and frame repairs may cost as much as five figures! Covering these costs can be challenging, so what should you do? These three questions will help you decide if working with an unwanted vehicle buyer may be your best next step.
1. Do Repair Costs Exceed Your Car's Value?
Used car prices are exceptionally high, but that doesn't mean that repair costs aren't also going up. If you drive an older vehicle or one without much value, repair costs may easily exceed the value of your car. In these cases, selling your wrecked car on the private market can be challenging since savvy buyers will realize little value remains.
Likewise, putting money into your car can be a losing game. Even if you restore it to its previous condition, you'll likely spend more money than you can ever recoup when reselling. Selling your car to a junk car buyer will immediately put money into your pocket, allowing you to free yourself of the burden of repairing your car while getting a few bucks to put towards a replacement.
2. Is the Car's Safety Compromised?
Just because your vehicle remains drivable after an accident doesn't mean it's safe to operate. The sudden impact from an accident can cause substantial damage to a vehicle's frame, alignment, suspension, or other components essential to remain safely on the road. For these reasons, you should always have a skilled shop evaluate your car after a collision.
Unfortunately, many problems that can make driving your car unsafe are also some of the costliest to repair. Driving your car for even a short period with damage to these components can potentially lead to another accident, putting yourself and other drivers at risk. If you can't afford to fix crucial safety issues, an unwanted car buyer can take your vehicle off your hands so you can get into something much safer.
3. Are You Going to Leave the Car Sitting?
While it might be worth keeping your car if you plan to repair and continue driving it, leaving a car sitting on your property has numerous downsides. In addition to being an eyesore that can impact property values, an unused car can become a habitat for rodents and other pests. Given enough time, toxic fluids such as oil or coolant can also leak into the environment.
If you're going to leave your car sitting on your property, selling to an unwanted car buyer is almost always the better bet. Not only will this help you avoid the many disadvantages of leaving a damaged junk car on your property, but it will also let you turn your wreck into cash.
Reach out to a local unwanted car buyer to learn more.
