It usually starts with a noise. Maybe it’s a clunk, a whine, a vibration or one of those mysterious dashboard lights that immediately makes you wonder how much money is about to leave your checking account. You take the car to the shop expecting something manageable, and then comes the estimate: $3,000.
Now you have a much bigger decision than whether to authorize the repair. Is this car actually worth putting another $3,000 into—or would you be better off selling it as-is?
Before automatically handing over the credit card, this is a perfect time to find out what CarBuyerUSA will pay for the vehicle before the repair is made.
A $3,000 Repair Doesn't Add $3,000 to Your Car's Value
This is where car owners can get themselves into trouble. Spending $3,000 repairing a vehicle does not necessarily make the vehicle worth $3,000 more. In many cases, the repair simply returns the car to the condition buyers already expect it to be in.
Suppose your car is worth $12,000 when operating properly. You spend $3,000 replacing a major component. That doesn't suddenly turn it into a $15,000 vehicle. You may still own roughly the same $12,000 car, you just spent $3,000 to get it back there. And sometimes that expensive repair is only the beginning.
If the vehicle is older or has substantial mileage, you should also consider the condition of the transmission, suspension, air conditioning, cooling system, electronics, brakes and tires. Fixing today's problem doesn't guarantee another expensive problem won't show up three months from now.
REPAIR IT OR SELL IT?
Ask Yourself |
Repairing May Make
Sense |
Selling May Make Sense |
|---|---|---|
Do I still want this car? |
Absolutely |
Not really |
Is this the only major problem? |
Probably |
There are several issues |
Can I comfortably afford the
repair? |
Yes |
It would hurt financially |
Will I keep it several more years? |
That's the plan |
I was already considering
selling |
Is the car otherwise dependable? |
Very |
Problems are becoming
frequent |
Do I know its as-is value? |
Yes |
Find that out FIRST |
Don't Let Money You've Already Spent Make the Decision
Here's another trap: “I've already put so much money into this car, I can't sell it now.” Actually, you can. Money previously spent on repairs, maintenance, tires and other expenses is already gone. Spending another $3,000 solely because you spent $2,000 last year doesn't magically make the previous $2,000 come back. Your decision should be based on what the vehicle is worth now, what this repair will cost and what you're likely to spend going forward.
Otherwise, your car can become a very expensive subscription service you never remember signing up for.
Get the CarBuyerUSA Value Before You Fix Anything
This is where knowing your vehicle's value becomes extremely important. CarBuyerUSA provides your vehicle value in approximately 20 seconds, and vehicles don't necessarily have to be freshly detailed, mechanically perfect or repaired before you find out what they're worth.
That matters because you may discover that selling the car as-is makes more financial sense than repairing it first. You also avoid another common mistake: fixing the mechanical problem, replacing the tires, repairing a dent, detailing the interior and spending even more money because you're convinced every dollar will come back when you sell. It may not.
Get the Number—Then Make the Decision
We're not saying every $3,000 repair means you should immediately sell your car. If you love the vehicle, it's otherwise reliable, it's paid off and you intend to keep it for years, repairing it may be the smartest move.
But don't make a $3,000 decision without knowing the other side of the equation.
Before approving that expensive repair, get your CarBuyerUSA.com value.
You might decide to fix the car and keep driving it. Or you might discover someone is willing to buy the problem sitting in your driveway, and suddenly that giant repair estimate can become somebody else's headache.
