Should I Replace My Damaged Bumper Before Selling My Car?

When you begin thinking about selling your current vehicle, there are many options and potential choices to consider. Many of these choices can deeply affect the current value and especially the resale value you receive for your vehicle. You want to get the best possible price from your vehicle, especially if you are purchasing a new vehicle afterward or as direct trade. In this article, we'll discuss some things to consider that can add to the resale value of your car as well as some things to know concerning when it may not be worthwhile or otherwise detrimental to do repair and replacement work on your vehicle.

Should I Repair My Car Before Trading It In?

A lot of people wonder if they should repair their car before trading it in. When you are looking to sell a car of yours, either on its own, before buying another car, or as part of a direct trade-in for another vehicle, it's important to know how to maximize the original vehicle's value. Maximizing its value includes knowing what is worth repairing and replacing first and what may not be as worthwhile to repair or replace before selling. Giving your car a tune-up and some repair work will typically only increase its value, putting more money in your pocket and/or toward a newer, nicer trade-in vehicle if a trade-in is your goal.

To get the most value out of your trade-in, there are certain parts to consider repairing or replacing. You want the most beautiful, presentable, and working vehicle to trade in, focusing majorly on mechanical and cosmetic work on your car. The top focuses to get the most value for your efforts and toward your goals include touching up scratches and other blemishes with paint or other automotive materials, cleaning the windows and interior of your car, washing and/or waxing your vehicle, and having the windshield washer, radiator, transmission fluid, headlamps, and brake fluid oil evaluated for proper working order.

Touching-Up Blemishes

Cosmetic work on your car is worth it toward an outright sale or trade-in. Also, if the scratches or other blemishes are minor, you can DIY fix or remove them.

Cleaning Up Interior

Presenting the best car for sale or trade-in also involves cleaning out any trash, or personal items, and cleaning the carpets and windows.

Washing and Waxing

Whether on your own or through a professional, washing the car can improve the presentation and help remove stains and other marks. Waxing also gives a nice finish if within your budget.

Check Working Conditions

Ensuring your brake and transmission fluids, radiator, oil, and windshield washer are in proper working order also go a long way toward establishing a properly maintained car.

What Parts Are Worth Replacing Before Selling?

In addition to these top cosmetic and maintenance actions and check-ins before sale or trade-in, it's also valuable to know what parts are worthwhile to replace. There are some parts worth replacing on your vehicle, where the cost is either relatively low compared to the prospective increase to the vehicle's resale value, or the cost is still very worthwhile in comparison to the increased resale value. You want to be careful and know what to replace so you don't spend more than you get out of the sale or trade-in. Some of the top worthwhile replacements include lights, wipers, tires, and bumpers.

Lights

Replacing any burned-out lights is important before sale or trade-in to increase your resale value and produce a car that’s in top working order.

Wipers

The wiper blades on a car can wear out and not adequately remove snow, rain, and dirt. You can easily replace these to increase resale value for a small price, especially if you use aftermarket-priced parts.

Tires

Thin tires are also worth replacing with brand new ones to spruce up your vehicle and better ensure adequate driveability. You can check mileage records, tire tread depth, or general visual appearance if you’re unsure if they could use replacement.

Bumpers

Other visible damages to replace include your bumpers. You should replace a damaged bumper before selling your car. It typically isn’t costly or time-intensive to replace. You can also save money with bumper replacement by using FitParts for the most trustworthy, affordable pricing.

When Is It Not Worth Repairing a Car?

While it is highly worthwhile to repair your vehicle in general, including some of these specific parts, and to do some more cleaning and beautification to increase resell value, it’s also highly worthwhile to know when it is not worth repairing a car. The biggest consideration when deciding if it’s worth it or not to repair and/or replace parts on your car is whether or not the repairs and replacements cost more than the vehicle’s value or if the price of repairs and replacements cost more than the money you would gain on the sale or trade-in from repairing and/or replacing these parts.

It is hard to think about all of the potential repair and replacement costs that seem much greater than simply saying goodbye to the vehicle as-is and purchasing a new vehicle outright. However, a new vehicle is a fairly expensive endeavor on its own, including car tax and registration fees. One way to save costs on your repair and replacement work and positively affect your cost comparisons is doing some of your own parts replacements at home. Some parts replacements are simpler than you might think and don’t require much equipment or specialization. Consider the scale of your current costs and any potential ways to save and maximize your current car’s value for the best savings, sale value, and new car options.

The Best Resale Values for You

For service, parts, and delivery from a company with customer-first and affordable pricing priorities, look to FitParts for your replacement parts, as well as for consistently valuable repair and maintenance information. Repair and replacement are worth it, especially from a company with reliable quality, aftermarket pricing, and uncompromising safety standards with you in mind.