Car Fax vs Trade In Value

Ok... I need a new ride. I'm no doubt going to get killed this winter in the car I'm driving now. For some reason, nobody can see my car. I get "swerved" on all the time. I dont' know if it's the color, (platinum) or it's just really small/low to the ground. It's like I'm invisible. (and its everywhere, not just somd)

I was rearended at a stop light of all places, and damn near totalled it. Did 5k worth of damage. I was very lucky the frame & suspension wasn't damaged. While Chesepeake Collision did a heck of a job restoring it to new, I now have this black mark on my car fax report.

So now, what can I expect if I still want to trade it in? I know the dealers will look up the car fax, so there's no point in not disclosing it. How much should I expect to get for a trade in if it was 14k before? Any words of wisdom in this situation?

[aps45819 (Premo)]

Drive with your lights on when it's dark or raining.

You're welcome.

Originally Posted by aps45819

Drive with your lights on when it's dark or raining.

You're welcome.

ya big turd.

Originally Posted by Rienell

Ok... I need a new ride. I'm no doubt going to get killed this winter in the car I'm driving now. For some reason, nobody can see my car. I get "swerved" on all the time. I dont' know if it's the color, (platinum) or it's just really small/low to the ground. It's like I'm invisible. (and its everywhere, not just somd)

I was rearended at a stop light of all places, and damn near totalled it. Did 5k worth of damage. I was very lucky the frame & suspension wasn't damaged. While Chesepeake Collision did a heck of a job restoring it to new, I now have this black mark on my car fax report.

So now, what can I expect if I still want to trade it in? I know the dealers will look up the car fax, so there's no point in not disclosing it. How much should I expect to get for a trade in if it was 14k before? Any words of wisdom in this situation?

A couple of issues. You should Google "diminished value claim" and get smart on that issue to see if you can force the insurance company to give you difference between what the car was worth before and after the wreck. Each state has different laws and the insurance companies hate those two words...

Next, if there's no frame damage, then your car can still be sold as a "certified used car," so that should minimize your trade-in hit. Make a point of telling them that...

"Carmax," in Laurel, I believe is the word you meant to use. You should go there and get a free appraisal for your trade before shopping it to anyone else...

[Dymphna]

Originally Posted by Patch Tuesday

"Carmax," in Laurel, I believe is the word you meant to use. You should go there and get a free appraisal for your trade before shopping it to anyone else...

CarMax is a dealer, CarFax is a reporting service that lets anyone who pays the fee know if a car has ever had an accident. The info is collected through insurance claims.

Originally Posted by Dymphna

CarMax is a dealer, CarFax is a reporting service that lets anyone who pays the fee know if a car has ever had an accident. The info is collected through insurance claims.

Good call, I couldn't remember if that was the name of it or not...

Anyway, she should still go to Carmax for a trade-in appraisal. The amount they are willing to buy your car for is almost always higher than the amount that most dealers are willing to give you for your car...

Originally Posted by Patch Tuesday

A couple of issues. You should Google "diminished value claim" and get smart on that issue to see if you can force the insurance company to give you difference between what the car was worth before and after the wreck. Each state has different laws and the insurance companies hate those two words...

Next, if there's no frame damage, then your car can still be sold as a "certified used car," so that should minimize your trade-in hit. Make a point of telling them that...

"Carmax," in Laurel, I believe is the word you meant to use. You should go there and get a free appraisal for your trade before shopping it to anyone else...

That is good info. Since it wasn't my fault, I am surprised USAA didn't mention that. I need to give them a call. Thanks.

Originally Posted by Rienell

That is good info. Since it wasn't my fault, I am surprised USAA didn't mention that. I need to give them a call. Thanks.

I seriously believe you are right about platinum colored vehicles. I got rear-ended twice in a platinum color car...

The second one, I didn't even bother fixing it before trading it in. I drove it straight to a dealer and opened my checkbook, before I got killed...

[Kittykat33]

Originally Posted by Rienell

That is good info. Since it wasn't my fault, I am surprised USAA didn't mention that. I need to give them a call. Thanks.

I work at a car dealership and it might be hard to get a good trade in. It doesn't matter if it was your fault or not.
They just see the damage to the vehicle.

Originally Posted by Kittykat33

I work at a car dealership and it might be hard to get a good trade in. It doesn't matter if it was your fault or not.
They just see the damage to the vehicle.

That's exactly why people should be entitled to a "diminished value" claim...