Is my car damaged or does it just have wear and tear?
Worried about selling a car with damage? Most car owners know that dents and scuffs are an unavoidable part of keeping a vehicle, but when it comes to selling a used car it can be difficult to guess the impact that visible flaws might have on the sale price.
It can be even more confusing to differentiate between wear and tear and damage to a vehicle. To help, here are some tips on figuring out where your used car sits on the scale from fair wear and tear to damage beyond affordable repair:
| Fair Wear and Tear | Damage |
| · Few stone chips
· Light scratching · Small dents · Small chips · Light scuffing · Removable stains · High mileage |
· Large dents on panels or cracked bumpers
· Hail damage · Scrapes/ deep scratches · Poor panel/paint repairs · Any rust · Misaligned panels · Missing accessories e.g. spare tyre, service books |
How can I sell a car with damage?
Selling a damaged car can be a long and confusing process. To help, we’ve created an application for selling cars that is as easy as taking a picture. Literally.
DIYinspect is a remote inspection app that allows you to inspect your car yourself from the comfort of your own home. Our advanced technology allows us to evaluate the condition of your car from the photo submission you make yourself.
All you have to do is download the app and take a few simple and guided photos of your car and a video of the engine running. Our valuations team will inspect the photos of any damage you submit and come back to you with a guaranteed buy price within 24 business hours. DIYinspect quotes are quick, easy and a reliable reflection of your cars value on the market.
What is a write off?
A ‘write off’ is a term used to describe when a car is damaged beyond repair. Cars are usually written off after a bad accident or severe weather events. When this happens, the car is recorded on the Written Off Vehicles Register (WOVR). Cars listed here often have an immediately reduced value. There are three types of write offs, statutory, repairable and inspected.
Statutory write offs usually have irreparable structural damage and can only be used for parts. Repairable write offs are when a vehicle can still be repaired but the cost is more than the market value of the car. An Inspected Repairable write off is a car that was once ‘repairable’ and has been repaired and re-registered successfully. To check the status of a vehicle you can check the Personal Properties Securities Register (PPSR) here.
Can I sell a car that’s been written off?
It can be difficult to sell written off cars to private buyers, which limits many car owners when it comes time to sell. Pickles can still purchase written off vehicles at a reduced price. Simply conduct a DIYinspect inspection and we make it easy to sell and move on.
For more information on selling used or damaged cars, check out the Pickles website. To start the process of selling your vehicle, download the DIYinspect app today.
