Is it worth restoring a car after an accident?

When can the car be repaired after an accident by the culprit?

After an accident, the victim worries about compensation and paying for repairs. The culprit wants to get his car repaired as soon as possible. However, this does not mean that you can rush to restore or dispose of the car. The interests of all participants in the accident will be connected for some time. Hasty repairs can not only turn out to be of poor quality, but also create problems for the car owner himself.

In order to decide whether you can take your car to a service center, you should familiarize yourself with your insurance contract and the Law “On Compulsory Motor Liability Insurance”. The proposed material will tell you when it is possible to repair a car after an accident for the culprit and why you should not rush to restore the car.

Car repair after European protocol

The procedure for registering an accident according to the European protocol and the subsequent actions of the participants in the accident are determined by Art. 11.1 of the Law “On Compulsory Motor Liability Insurance”. In accordance with it, the culprit of the accident must visit his insurance company within 5 days after issuing a notification from the accident and hand over the original European protocol. No one involved in an accident should have their vehicle repaired within 15 calendar days after the accident, excluding holiday weekends. After this, you will only have to wait until the repair period expires. During this time, the insurance company may require that not only the damaged vehicle, but also the culprit’s car be presented for inspection.

The insurance company must inform you of your intention to inspect the car in writing. You can ignore the phone call. After receiving a registered letter or telegram, you will still have to take the car for inspection.

The period begins the day after the accident. Calculation example: the accident occurred on 10/01/2019. Car repairs will be possible from October 20, 2019.

After this time, you can take the car to the service center. However, it is in the interests of the culprit of the accident to clarify the circumstances of the case with the victim. Has the amount of compensation been determined for him and is he satisfied with it? If all is well, the car can be repaired. If not, and the victim intends to sue, then if possible, there is no need to rush.

Attention! If the accident is documented in a European protocol, then it would not be superfluous to take a receipt from the victim stating that there are no claims in excess of the insurance payment.

Repair after registration of an accident with the traffic police

If for the eroprotocol the law sets strict minimum deadlines for starting repairs of all cars, then with the usual traffic police registration the situation is simpler. The inspector will describe all damage in the report. The protocol will be sent to the insurance company along with all other documents for payment. Insurance companies fully trust traffic police inspectors, so they usually do not require you to present the culprit’s car.

In addition, the law does not define strict deadlines for repairing a car in this case. However, you should not start repairs earlier than 20 days later. During this time, the insurance company must send the victim's damaged car for inspection. If the potential amount of damage exceeds the maximum insurance payment, then the person at fault will have to pay the difference. To do this, it would be a good idea to save it for examination or carry it out in advance.

Pitfalls of repair after an accident

After an accident registered under the European protocol, the insurance company has the right to demand the culprit’s car for examination. It is carried out in the direction of the company. After it, he can safely repair the car. But this is not always worth doing. If the driver knows that he will somehow violate the terms of the insurance contract, for example, he did not submit a notification about an accident on time, then he risks receiving recourse claims.

In this situation, an examination of the culprit’s car will help determine the actual possible damage to the damaged car.

The statute of limitations for such cases is three years. During this period, the victim will be able to file claims against the culprit if the cost of repairs exceeds the maximum insurance payments under compulsory motor liability insurance. In this case, it is also advisable to obtain an opinion from an independent expert before repairs.

Attention! It must be remembered that a self-conducted examination does not replace an inspection directed by the insurer. You cannot repair a car ahead of schedule on the grounds that the driver himself ordered and paid for the examination.

Firstly, no one will reimburse the costs of the accident to the culprit. Secondly, this will be a violation of the contract and the law “On Compulsory Motor Liability Insurance”.

Consequences of early car repairs

So, in an effort to fix the car as soon as possible and forget about the unpleasant incident, the culprit sometimes rushes with the repair. Indeed, under compulsory motor liability insurance he will not receive any compensation, but this does not mean that he has nothing to lose.

The first thing a hasty motorist faces is a recourse claim from the insurance company. She has the right to present it, because by repairing a car ahead of the legal deadline, the driver violates the terms of the law “On Compulsory Motor Liability Insurance” and the insurance contract. By way of recourse, the defendant will have to pay the insurer the entire amount paid as compensation to the victims.

The second problem is the impossibility of proving in court what damage was caused. The fact is that based on the damage to at least one of the cars, an experienced expert can reconstruct the course of the entire accident, its circumstances and what damage the damaged car could have received. The culprit’s vehicle and the damage to it become real evidence in the case. By repairing or disposing of a car, the driver deprives himself of a serious tool for proving in court. But if it turns out that the maximum amount under compulsory motor liability insurance paid by the insurance company does not cover the amount of damage, then the victim will demand the missing amount from the culprit of the accident through the court. At this stage, it will be important to establish what damage was caused to the victim and what the cost of repairs will be.

So, it is obvious that the culprit should not rush to repair the car. It is necessary to comply with the legal framework - 15 days when registering an accident using a European protocol. It is also important to take into account the circumstances of a particular case, especially if there is a trial ahead.

All about damaged cars: is it worth buying a car after an accident?

“There are no undamaged used cars!” Perhaps every car enthusiast has heard this phrase. Let's figure out whether it's worth buying a used car? When is the risk justified, and when is it worth abandoning the purchase? Read all about buying used cars in the Autocode material.

Content

Some statistics

According to the results of a sociological survey conducted by one well-known automobile portal, about 40 percent of those wishing to purchase a vehicle encounter attempts to deceive when buying a car.

According to statistics, more than 70% of cars have been involved in an accident at least once. Most car sellers hide the fact of participation in an accident.

In Moscow alone, almost 100 thousand advertisements for the sale of cars are published daily in various information publications. Among them there are many that offer to buy used cars at a very low cost. At the same time, sellers assure that straightening a dent on a fender or hood is a mere trifle, and if you really want to, you can even do it yourself, or with the help of a neighbor in the garage.

When should you buy a used car?

It is quite possible to save money on purchasing a vehicle that has been in an accident. However, only for minor damage. Experts advise starting from the amount the repair will cost.

If we are talking about a domestically produced car, you can spend 25-30 thousand rubles. In principle, such a purchase is profitable. There is enough money to replace a damaged bumper, headlight or mirror, as well as paint one or two scratched body elements.

Repairing a foreign car will cost much more, and here you need to proceed from your financial capabilities. The catch is that, without special knowledge, it is quite difficult to determine the extent of damage if the seller is unwilling to tell the whole truth about the damaged car. Therefore, it is best to use the services of an expert. A consultation with a qualified technician can cost several thousand rubles, but perhaps he will be able to find defects in a damaged car that you, due to your inexperience, simply do not pay attention to.

When should you refuse a purchase?

According to experts, you should not buy a car with broken body geometry. This defect in most cases is the cause of a head-on collision or other very serious accident. Repairing such a damaged car will cost a pretty penny. And even if after restoration the car looks quite decent in appearance, there will be plenty of problems with it. Violation of body geometry can cause:

increased or uneven wear of tires on wheels;
the appearance of cracks on glass due to the curvature of the openings into which they are attached;
the occurrence of leaks in the cabin and other unforeseen situations.

In addition, the body restored after severe damage will no longer have the same strength, and in the next accident it may simply fold like an accordion. This can cause the driver and passengers to receive life-threatening injuries.

Another reason not to buy a damaged car is that in the event of a significant accident, the airbags probably deployed. Replacing them is expensive and, depending on the vehicle model, can cost several tens of thousands of rubles or even more. There are, of course, craftsmen who, for several thousand rubles, will turn off the sensors (so that the light indicating a malfunction does not light up) and replace the panels covering the locations of the pillows. Outwardly, everything will look perfect, but the lives of passengers and the driver will again be at risk.

It is also worth thinking about the rationality of purchasing a damaged car with serious dents on elements such as fenders and doors. Replacing them is not cheap. And restoring the paintwork on damaged parts requires straightening and putty. Too thick a layer of putty very often becomes the reason that in the near future cracks and chips will appear on the surface of the paintwork. Over time, the body of a damaged car will begin to “bloom” from rust.

How buyers are deceived

Buying used cars is a serious and very profitable business. Most of the cars after an accident fall into the hands of dealers who have at their disposal a huge arsenal of technical means for restoring the damaged car. They end up with the lion's share of damaged cars that can be repaired with minimal investment of money and time. And ordinary buyers are most often offered to buy complete “junk” that requires considerable investment.

Damaged cars from Japan, Europe or the United States are in considerable demand today. There are special auctions for the sale of emergency vehicles. However, by buying a car this way, you risk throwing money away. There are several options for unfavorable developments. In particular:

the actual condition of the car may be very different from what you see in the photographs in the ad (it may be a completely different damaged car);
you will be asked to make a 100% advance payment, citing the fact that, they say, the price is already nowhere lower, and the car can be bought by another auction participant.

By agreeing to make a full prepayment, you risk being left without a car and without money. If, nevertheless, a damaged car ends up in your hands, no one can guarantee that it is not already included in the register of vehicles that have been in an accident on one of the specialized sites. Therefore, after repairs, making money on its sale will not be so easy.

When buying a car directly from its owner, you can also encounter fraud. Of course, not all sellers hide the truth about the real condition of the vehicle for sale. Some people prefer to immediately report that the car has been in an accident and, in order to avoid further claims, tell in detail about all the problem areas.

However, it also happens the other way around, when a heavily damaged car is restored and they try to sell it for a lot of money. To avoid getting into trouble, it is better, before buying a car, to inspect its technical condition at one of the service centers. A qualified specialist can easily determine whether the car has been in an accident. Experts also advise that when buying a car, find out from the seller the address of the service center where it was previously serviced, and seek advice there. Perhaps you will find out whether they are trying to sell you a damaged car or not.

What to look for when buying a used car

You can determine whether a damaged car is being offered to you or not using a special device - a thickness gauge or during an external inspection of the car. There are several visual signs by which you can recognize a car that has been in an accident. When purchasing a vehicle, inspect it carefully. A damaged car will give itself away:

different shades of color for individual body elements;
unequal gaps between parts;
the presence of glasses and headlights of different years of manufacture (factory parts always have the same year of manufacture);
poorly executed welds;
incorrect wheel alignment (the reason for exceeding the permissible deviation from the norm may be a violation of the geometry of the body, which indicates a serious accident in which the car has been). It is better to refuse to buy such a damaged car.

A damaged car can also be identified using a conventional low-power magnet. Apply it to various body parts. If you feel that somewhere the magnet sticks to the surface weaker, perhaps the part has been damaged in this place, and there is a thick layer of putty under the paintwork.

Experts advise inspecting the car during the day and in good lighting. This way you are more likely to see any external defects.

One final tip: check the car's history.

Neither a thickness gauge nor a thorough visual inspection can give a guaranteed correct answer to the question of whether a car has been in an accident or not. Therefore, when buying a car, do not be lazy to check its history using the Autocode service. To get the most detailed information about the number of former owners, the presence of traffic police restrictions and much more, just enter the VIN or license plate number of the vehicle.

From the report you will find out what accidents the car was involved in and what damage it received during the accident. The report will also tell you what repairs the car needed. This information is provided according to the traffic police and insurance companies.

You can also order an on-site vehicle inspection on the website. The expert will come to the specified location, inspect the car using special equipment and prepare a detailed report on the technical condition of the car.

You can read more about how to buy and inspect a used car in our free book, Secrets to Buying a Used Car Safely. You can download it here.

Restoring a car after an accident: five tips from a specialist

Repairing a car after an accident is a complex process that requires a competent approach. Whether your “swallow” will be able to return to its previous appearance depends on the severity of the damage.

A rare car enthusiast will be lucky enough to never be involved in a traffic accident during his driving experience. There are different types of accidents: it’s good if everything went well for the driver and passengers, but the car, one way or another, suffers. Maxim Stipanidenko, director of one of the Blagoveshchensk car services, told readers of The Fellow Traveler about how to restore a car after an accident, and in which cases it makes no sense to make repairs.

Tip one: assess the damage

Any repair begins with an assessment of the damage sustained in an accident. Minor damage may include dents from minor or tangential collisions, damage to bumpers, fenders, grilles and headlights. Most often, in such cases, replacing or painting these parts is sufficient. The simplest damage is small dents and scratches, the correction of which does not require removing the part, but only putty and painting (in this case, painting can be done either partially, directly at the point of damage, or completely the entire part, moving to other parts of the body, so as not to there were differences in color).

If the impact was stronger or the car turned over, this leads to deformation of the body frame - the “TV”, thresholds, door pillars, beams of body parts, and with a very powerful impact, the side members (the main strength elements of the body) or the frame are deformed - this is the most difficult repair, and it is not always possible.

Tip two: check the running gear

Price issue

Bumper replacement – from 1000 rubles.

Straightening – from 3000 rubles per part

After a collision, even if the car is running, in addition to cosmetic damage, one should not forget about the technical condition, because an impact can damage radiators, diffusers, fan impellers, suspension and transmission parts, levers, axles, struts, and hubs. It is necessary to inspect and diagnose the chassis; this can be done at the wheel alignment stand. Diagnostics of the chassis in car services is usually carried out free of charge.

If the part is not badly damaged, the stiffening ribs are preserved, it can be pulled out and straightened. But after straightening, a layer of putty must be applied, which may peel off over time, especially on parts exposed to constant impact: doors, trunk, hood. Therefore, the decision is up to the owner: to straighten the parts or replace them.

Price issue

Replacing a roof or other part of the body - from 90,000 rubles and above (including purchase and delivery costs)

Pulling spars - from 5000 rubles

Tip three: pay special attention to the body!

The most difficult process is body restoration. If it doesn't work, it may be enough to replace the roof, rear or front part of the body. And here the difficulty arises in finding parts, because they are not manufactured - you will have to purchase them from a damaged car, which means there is a high probability of buying a part with dents and scratches. The older the car, the easier it is to find a suitable roof or “half”. For an expensive new car, you'll likely need to shell out a pretty penny for the roof. You can look for the same car as yours without a title, but you need to first consult with the traffic police on how to prepare documents for replacing the body or engine of such a car.

When the body is very severely deformed (which most often happens after a rollover), it will be necessary to check the geometry of the body using control points. If the spars have failed, then the process of pulling or replacing them is very labor-intensive and requires special expensive electronic equipment - a slipway - which can only be operated by a highly qualified craftsman. By the way, this service is quite new; just a few years ago, car services in Blagoveshchensk did not provide it.

Price issue

Painting – from 3000 rubles per part

Tip four: look for a painting specialist

After repair work, the car, of course, needs to be painted, and ideally so that the new color does not differ from the factory one. The selection of paint is a very important point, since over time it fades and begins to differ from the “native” one. Much depends on the artist; not all pickers match the color exactly. The quality of painting will be better if the car service center has a spray booth with good exhaust, but then the price of painting will increase.

Price issue

Glass replacement – from 2000 rubles

Tip five: the choice of glass is yours

This procedure is simple and does not require special equipment. Glass can be purchased either used or new. The new glass can be either original or an analogue. The original glass is excellent in quality and is no different from the one that was on your car before, but it is usually very expensive. An analogue is cheaper, but there is a possibility of a difference in shade from the factory glass, this is especially noticeable on expensive executive cars.

“Each case is individual”

“Any car involved in an accident should be examined individually; you will always need the opinion of a competent specialist, and it may be necessary to remove some parts of the car to find hidden defects,” says Maxim Stipanidenko. – If after an accident the body or frame is severely deformed, as a rule, there is no point in repairing it, especially if we are talking about a Japanese car over 10 years old. If the entire body or frame is deformed by a “screw”, it is almost impossible to restore the car. Auto-disassembly will offer you to buy a car for an amount of 20,000 rubles, depending on the damage. But you can always try to sell a broken car and the documents for it yourself through specialized websites or ad sites: maybe there will be people who want to buy a so-called “donor” for their car or for restoration.

Is it worth restoring a car after an accident?

No motorist is insured against accidents. You don't have to be a bad driver or disobey traffic rules to do this. “if it doesn’t hit you, it hits you” often applies , which means that you can become involved in an accident completely by accident. If the accident is minor, then the procedure is simple - repair it, paint it, and continue to use the car. But if the accident was serious, and the case turned out to be not insurable, then you should consider in more detail whether it is worth restoring the transport.

What to pay attention to after an accident

The first step is to assess the damage caused . To do this, you should contact a specialized service . If the cost of car repairs exceeds 50% of the cost of the vehicle, then there is no point in repairing, the money spent will not pay off, and the car itself can only be sold at a price below the market value.

It is also worth paying attention to the damage itself: if the load-bearing parts were deformed as a result of an accident, then the repairs will cost a hefty sum . Some damage, such as a twisted body, is almost impossible to restore to factory condition. It will be dangerous to continue driving such a car.

It’s worth remembering what you can save money on when repairing a car, and what you shouldn’t. If the decision has been made to restore the transport, there is no need to try to cut the cost of restoration at the expense of transport safety. In many accidents, airbags . Even if the car is ultimately sold, there is no need to “jam” the AirBag sensors. Replacing them will cost a pretty penny, but they can serve the future owner well, or even save his life.

You should always have a cash reserve of 30% more than what was estimated at the service center. As a rule, during car repair, many nuances appear that will also affect the cost of restoration. An initial inspection and assessment will never reveal the exact cost of all restoration work. Additional costs may arise even at the very end of the renovation work. If such a reserve is not available, it is worth selling the car as is and looking for another one.

Pros and cons of restoring a car after an accident

The restoration procedure has its advantages, but there are not many of them, because most motorists prefer to sell an unhappy car rather than restore it. Here are some benefits of repairing your car:

The ability to continue driving your favorite car . Some car owners are very attached to their vehicles, their cars are completely customized for them and it will be simply difficult for them to get used to another car. Restoration will help you keep your favorite car and continue to use it.
Saving . In most cases, repairs turn out to be cheaper than subsequently selling and buying a new one. Damaged vehicles are sold much cheaper, and purchasing another car will significantly hit your budget. In most cases, the restoration procedure costs less.
Restoration may be covered by insurance . In some cases, the car owner will only have to drive the car to a service center and then pick up the already repaired car. There is no need to search for and buy spare parts yourself, or negotiate with the craftsmen on the cost.

Despite all the advantages, car repair, as well as driving it in the future, has a number of significant disadvantages:

A damaged car will always remain damaged . In some cases, restoring to factory condition is not possible. Over time, problems that were not initially visible may come to the surface. Driving such a car becomes dangerous.
Repairs may cost more than originally estimated . During the process of restoring a car, service center technicians may find additional problems and damage that were not visible initially. Eliminating these breakdowns will be an additional expense for which the car owner was not prepared.
Falling car value . If you put the car up for sale in the future, you may encounter an unpleasant nuance - the market value of the car has dropped significantly. Refurbished cars always fall in value and are sold for much less. It is almost impossible to hide the fact that he was in an accident. The sale will be at a reduced price and will not cover the cost of repairs.
Possibility of being deceived . If the car owner is not very knowledgeable about its components, unscrupulous service technicians may try to deceive him: make repairs for a lesser amount, but cost more. Coordination of each step with the technician will help protect against such situations, but for this you need to have an idea of what they do in the service.
Insurance may not cover repairs . Each situation is considered individually, and sometimes insurance companies do not cover car repairs. The simplest example: if a car crashes into an enterprise fence on ice, the insurance company can cover the repair of the fence, but all expenses for restoring the car fall on the owner’s shoulders.
Repairs may be carried out poorly . Even excellent specialists can make mistakes, especially when it comes to serious damage. Such defects can significantly affect the safety of movement and put the vehicle owner at risk.

It is worth restoring a car after an accident only if the damage was not so serious and the presence of all the shortcomings of this procedure does not frighten you. At the same time, there is a strong desire to repair and maintain your car. Otherwise, you should sell the car as is and look for another vehicle.

Most motorists agree that it is better to sell a car that has been in an accident immediately and not waste your time, effort and nerves. Repairs do not always pay off, and the car owner may spend extra money, which no one will subsequently return to him.

CAR BUY

Urgent purchase of a car in any condition

Broken, sunken or burning car - is it worth repairing?

Serious car damage usually comes with a variety of other problems. But even if no one was seriously injured in the accident, even if you are clearly and undoubtedly innocent, and even if the cause was a force majeure circumstance, like a tree blown down by the wind, the owner of the damaged car finds himself in an extremely stressful situation. Monetary losses, disrupted plans, conflict situations that need to be resolved without compromising your interests. But in this case it is necessary to do something with the damaged car, and the sooner the better.

Why you should hurry is clear without detailed explanations. Every day and every week of owning a hopelessly damaged vehicle is hassle and wasteful expenses, ongoing hassle and uncertainty.

So, when bureaucratic and, if you are especially unlucky, court cases related to road accidents come to some certainty, solving the problem of a damaged car comes to the fore. To begin with, the choice is between repair and sale. Try to restore or sell a damaged car. And if you sell, then whether to repair the damaged car for sale.

All these options have their own characteristics, difficulties, advantageous and disadvantageous aspects. And you can make a profitable decision only after considering all the nuances.

Sale or repair options:

The car's body is moderately damaged, there are defects in some external parts and devices - broken glass, headlights, bumper, etc. If there is no money to replace the car, but you need to drive, then repairs and replacement will bring the car into a tolerable condition and will allow you to use it successfully for some time. Yes, it’s not always possible to find original parts or a decent replacement; painting a damaged body is always worse than the original, but if there is no way out, it will do.

A seemingly harmless, but very costly option is extensive minor damage to the body. The cost of repairs can reach 50% of the cost of the car, but the result will still be a damaged car with a quickly deteriorating body.

There are deformations of the frame - the geometry of the body is broken, in the words of experts. Yes, in this case a recovery attempt is possible, but there are two “buts”. Such repairs, whether they bring results or not, will be very expensive, and the operational properties of the machine cannot be completely restored.

So decide - should you use an unreliable car yourself, should you sell it, passing it off as serviceable, and risk a serious scandal that smoothly flows into court? Or is it even more unreasonable to invest a lot of money and sell it cheap? Please also keep in mind that an assessment of the cost of repairs can be carried out quite competently either by a paid expert or by a repairman who is either conscientious or not.

10 reasons not to repair your car after an accident

What are the dangers of operating a car that has suffered an accident with body deformation?

When driving, the car is likely to pull to the side. Moreover, the higher the speed, the sharper the displacement. And higher risk!
Uneven tire wear. It’s not just inconvenient, but sometimes dangerous.
Deterioration of the fit of body parts among themselves - the possibility of breakdowns increases sharply.
General weakening of the body, especially dangerous under strong mechanical stress. That is, the car will break much faster and more severely in a collision.

What are the disadvantages of repairing for the purpose of selling a damaged car?

Such a vehicle loses a significant part of its market value with any, even the most expensive, repairs. There are many costs, little return.
Trying to sell a damaged car while hiding its damage from the buyer is a very real reason for being accused of fraud. With all the ensuing consequences.

Questionable points of repair for further operation

Waste of time. The fact is that accurate damage assessment is often difficult. There is no way to calculate in advance the timing of work, the time to search for spare parts and consumables, and financial costs. For many more weeks, or even months, hidden damage caused by an accident will appear in the repaired car. In the end, the owner of such a car begins to greatly regret that he did not dare to sell the damaged car, but it is no longer possible to win back and return the money.
If the car has been in water, problems with the electronics will definitely begin - perhaps right now, or perhaps on the road, in a foreign city, on the highway, despite the fact that the costs of bringing it into decent shape will be significant.
If a fire occurs, the car will lose a significant part of its comfort and attractiveness, and may not be able to be restored at all.

All of the above points are a reason to sell the car as quickly as possible and without attempting to restore it. The fact is that the most likely buyer will want to purchase such a vehicle at a low price. For disassembly or, less often, for repair with subsequent operation. Your attempts to eliminate defects will not increase the value of the car, but will only take time and money.

How to sell?

You can advertise, update them, communicate with potential buyers who will strive to get something usable for the price of a used car.

You can contact a used car dealer and offer your car. Such buyers, unlike ordinary private individuals, are serious about buying back a used car, have the money for this purpose, and it will be easier to negotiate with them.

You can send your used car for evaluation directly from this page and you might like our price!

To summarize: the more serious or extensive the damage to a car, the less likely it is that it can be fully restored. Therefore, it is better not to waste effort, time and money, but to quickly get rid of such a car.