Battered sheet metal: Sell an accident car - how to get rid of your accident car

Once you have been inattentive for a moment, and it has already happened. You're just a little shocked, but the car has taken more. So the new car now becomes an accident car, so you are faced with the decision of whether you should sell the vehicle. Is that possible despite an accident? Is a repair worth it at all?

An accident is not always the reason to sell a car. If you are interested in a new car, we have a few top offers for you:

 

When is my car an accident car?

A car is called an accident car as soon as the damage to the vehicle is more than 200 euros. Before that, it is considered minor damage and does not have to be declared as an accident.

The question of when a broken car is considered an accident car is basically easy to answer. If your vehicle is damaged, no matter what it is, it is actually no longer accident-free. In practice, however, there is a large gray area here, not every damage makes the car an accident car. If someone caused damage to your car and then drove away, that person has committed a hit-and-run.

So if you have a scratch in the paintwork while parking or someone rolls into your bumper at the traffic lights, it depends on how much damage you have. If it is no more than 200 euros, this is to be considered minor damage and not an accident. You don't have to label the car as an accident car if you want to sell it.

If you have had an accident with a leased car, you should be particularly careful and inform both the insurance company and the lessor as soon as possible.

Repair or sell an accident car?

Whether you should sell or repair your car after an accident depends on how expensive a repair is and how much the car is still worth in return. In the case of older vehicles, repair is usually no longer economical, resulting in a so-called economic total loss. If you have a fairly new car, a repair is usually worthwhile.

In any case, you should have a professional appraisal prepared and make the decision based on it. If you want to sell the car with the existing damage, it should of course be clearly visible in the pictures for the listing. In addition, the damage must also be mentioned again in the sales advertisement.

Can I sell an accident car?

Yes, you can sell an accident car. There are specialized dealers who buy salvage cars. Private individuals are also sometimes interested in accident cars, but this is rather the exception. It is important here that your vehicle has suffered a loss of value as a result of the accident, which you must factor into the price.

Depending on how severe the damage was, it can be difficult to sell an accident car. But often it's easier than you think. The market for accident cars is definitely there, so it can be worthwhile to sell even a badly damaged car instead of having it scrapped.

If the damage was more than 200 euros, you are obliged to tell the buyer about the accident. If you don't do this and sell the car as accident-free, you can be liable to prosecution for fraud. Even if you don't have to give a used car warranty, this must not be fraudulently concealed. Whether it is worthwhile to clean the interior of an accident car and remove the odors in the interior is another question and probably no longer quite as relevant.

How much does the value of accident cars decrease?

The reason why you commit fraud when you conceal an accident is the price. If your vehicle has had an accident, this reduces the value - even if there is no longer any sign of the damage due to a professional repair. Normally, in the event of an accident involving insurance, an expert opinion is always requested, in which the depreciation of the vehicle would then be noted. Such an appraisal is one of the documents for the car sale that you present to the buyer.

The exact depreciation is of course individual, but it can be said that the depreciation in the event of an accident corresponds to about 10 percent of the repair costs.

Of course, an accident-free car can be sold at a higher price if you have kept the loss of value low. A used car check at the TÜV makes sense, then you know exactly how much can be charged.

Can I sell an accident car privately?

Yes, you can also sell an accident car to private individuals. The only important thing is that you clearly name the damage in the sales advertisement and later in the purchase contract and identify the vehicle as an accident car.

Is it worth selling an accident car to dealers nearby?

Of course, selling to a dealer near you is a good option. If the accident damage has been professionally repaired, then you will probably have little trouble selling the vehicle. You can also sell the accident car at Carwow. It's just important that you state the damage. Simply upload vehicle data and important information, interested dealers will then bid on your vehicle. In the end, you decide whether to accept the bid and receive your payment immediately.

How can I sell repaired damaged cars?

In most cases, repaired accident cars can be sold without any problems. Especially if buyers only have a small budget available, accident cars are an option to save some money. Because if the damage has been repaired professionally, you as a seller only have to expect minor losses when selling.

However, it is important that you can document the repair. This means that the invoices, appraisals and receipts of the workshop and the appraiser (if required) must be able to be shown at the time of sale.

The purchase contract should state that the buyer has been informed of the accident and still consents to the purchase. If you have also offered the car well maintained and in good condition, you can still charge good money for an accident car.

 

Nothing left to save: Sell a car with a total loss

Also, if the car has suffered a total loss after a serious accident, or the repair would cost more than the car is still worth, you can consider selling. Some dealers specialize in the purchase of accident cars, and prepare the cars, sell individual parts or ship them abroad.

Scrapping a car will cost you money again, so selling it is almost always the better alternative – because it will at least give you a few euros for your vehicle. You should deregister the car beforehand, because it is no longer roadworthy anyway. Once it has been deregistered, you will need a parking space on private property for it, because you are then no longer allowed to park the car on public property, especially not in zones where a residents' parking permit is required due to the limited space.

However, if you have a car with a total loss, you should contact a specialized dealer who will prepare an appraisal and offer you a fair price. Privately selling an accident car with a total loss will be rather difficult.

Accident car: tips for a safe sale

Only when there are only self-driving cars on the road will there probably be no more accidents. But that will take some time. To ensure that the sale of an accident car works smoothly until then, and that both you and the buyer go home satisfied, there are a few tips that you should take to heart.

Don't conceal accident damage

As already mentioned, there can be legal consequences if an accident is concealed, because it is fraud. If a complaint is filed, you can expect a fine. But apart from that, it's unfair, because buying a car is an emotional event and both parties should be trusting and honest with each other.

Find specialized dealers

If no one contacts us privately, then you are specifically looking for dealers who buy accident cars. Here you have a better chance of selling the car and usually get a fair price and an expert appraisal.

Spruce up the accident car

Whether it's a normal sale or whether you want to sell an accident car - the first impression counts. That's why you should give the car a wash, clean the interior and polish the paint if necessary. A well-maintained car increases the chances of a sale.

Sell accident car after appraisal

It is best to have an expert report prepared after the accident. An expert assesses the damage and also quantifies the loss of value. This way, you have sufficient documents available to an interested person when selling.