With several posts and articles about the high cost of collision repairs, it occurred to me to post about a past experience. A few years back I had an at fault accident that cost over $13K to repair my low mileage 18 month old car. Fortunately I had collision insurance and I was only out the deductible. It was repaired using all OEM parts and restored to a like new appearance. A year later I traded it in for a new Lexus 300 F sport. The trade in values were identical in Edmunds,Kelly Blue Book , Carmax and the dealers program. The offer was $3K less. The dealer produced a VIN history showing all services,recalls and accidents with a highlighted notation of MAJOR accident. They advised that all collision repairs in excess of 10K are major. As a side note had the repair been $15K or more it would have been totaled.
Now I am not suggesting any fraud but given the choice I suggest totaling and replacing.
Now I am not suggesting any fraud but given the choice I suggest totaling and replacing.