For those with the knowledge..... How much should a "fender bender" affect value of a car. Car is completely repaired - needed new taillight and bumper cover. Looking to trade the altima for an edge and make an all ford drive way!

 

Depends on a lot of factors. When I traded in my '11 Pilot the accident I had been in didn't affect the value at all. They gave me a value and then when it came down to paperwork the state of Alaska requires disclosure of any accidents so I had to let them know the car had been rearended and the damage was around $2500. The dealer didn't change the numbers at all.

So, if I were you I wouldn't say anything about it unless directly asked until you get a number. Different states have different laws. Some dealers don't care. Also, the age of the car, miles, condition, repair job, can all play a part in it. If the repair job is so-so any used car manager worth his salt can pick out body work. My little brother taught me to a have a wicked eye for it after he spent years in a body shop.

I was upfront with one Ford dealer about the accident with my Pilot before I was given a trade in number and they came back with $10k. Come on....$10k for a 2011 Honda Pilot EX-L with 7500 miles on it?? It had a trade in value of $31k. Next Ford dealer I said nothing until I was given a number and they gave me $30500, could careless about a $2500 accident, said they couldn't tell it had been repaired (I could). All parts were replaced with new Honda parts and I had the paperwork to prove it.

 

Like akred150 said it depends on state and dealer. All the dealers I went to to trade in my Civic always looked up the car fax prior to giving the trade value.

There was a sales man that was kind enough to explain to me as to why they got that number and showed me the system they use. Basically it came down to my car had a "damaged" title due to some lady doing a hit and run at my apartment and doing about $3000 worth of damage. So with that "damaged" title the dealers here are not allowed to sell it on their lot, they have to sell it in auction thus reducing the value. The difference was about $2000.

I wouldn't tell them anything unless they ask. I've found that if you say no accidents and they pull the car fax and see you lied they tend to give lower value. Hope this helps and best of luck!

 

I know some will cry foul, but if it was nothing but a bumper cover and taillight, I don't know if I'd even mention it if the paint matches well. I'd stay quiet on it unless you have to start sigining your name to something that says the car has never been involved in an accident. If there was bent sheet metal, I'd disclose it, but I'd probably steer clear of trying to trade the vehicle into a dealer as well, because they're going to use it as an excuse to take you to the cleaners. I've bought some used vehicles that have had body damage before, and as long as the repair was done well, I just use it as some leverage to get the price I want to pay. If it is a high mileage or older vehicle, I probably won't even say anything about it at all.

Carfax is OK, but several states out there only require accidents over a certain dollar amount be reported to the DMV, and others don't require it at all. If it isn't totaled, you'll never know if it has been in an accident unless someone tells you.

 

Well unfortunately a 2k repair showed up on the carfax. They tried to give me 10k for 16k trade in value. Another tried 13k. Guess I'm going to try to sell it on my own.

 

And this is why I would cry foul to the comment above yours not to mention it being dishonest.

A general rule is that any trade in is going to rip you off but it's easy. Of my last two vehicles I was offered 16 trade in and sold it for 21, and offered 6 on the other which sold for 10.

 

I had my front bumper cover repainted on my corvette because of the rock chips and when I went to trade it in I was told it brought the trade in value down. I just went to a different dealer and they didn't care at all. With cars with painted bumper covers it seems to get treated much differently then trucks with actual bumpers.

 

if the accident was the other persons fault and depending what you state you live in, you can try to get a diminished value claim. Do an internet search about it. Basically you can recover some of the value lost due to the car being in an accident.

 

Yep. I saw that doing some searches. Checking with insurance agent Monday on how to proceed. . The wreck was a week ago. Car is at shop now. On a side note the new edges are sooo nice. Wish the 150s had my touch!

 

I'd personally be weary of trading just cause most dealers will low ball you big time ( in my experience anyway) I was gonna trade my 07 Lariat that I built to look like an 08 limited and the dealer actually thought it was when the gave me a trade in price on it and cam back with something like 14000! Ridiculous.( had two minor hit and runs on it that were repaired, and they didn't even know that) The truck was mint, sold it privately for 24000...because it was In such good condition. Unless you really need it to go I'd try private first. My truck sold in 3 days of listing Good luck