Does Car Scratches Affect Resale Value?
2 Answers
Car scratches do affect resale value. Here is relevant information about vehicle resale value:1. Concept: Car resale value has always been an important component of a vehicle's cost-performance ratio. The so-called resale value refers to the ratio between the selling price of a specific model after a period of use and its original purchase price. It depends on multiple factors such as the car's performance, price fluctuation range, reliability, spare parts prices, and maintenance convenience, reflecting the comprehensive quality of the vehicle. 2. Advantage: It is less affected by price reduction trends, minimizing consumers' financial losses caused by product depreciation.
From my experience selling used cars, I know that scratches and dents absolutely affect resale value, mainly because buyers spot surface flaws at first glance and immediately haggle. For example, last year when I sold my car, there was a small scratch on the rear bumper that I didn’t fix, and the buyer knocked off a thousand bucks from the price—even though repairing that spot would’ve cost just five or six hundred. Minor scratches, like shallow door-edge marks, can be touched up with a paint pen, minimizing the loss. But deeper scratches on the hood or rear fender left untreated can slash the price by thousands. The key issue is that used car appraisers and dealers score vehicles based on appearance—any flaw means a discount, and it’s worse if the damage shows up unrepaired in history reports (like Carfax). My advice: fix scratches promptly and keep repair receipts to prove you’ve invested in maintenance, making transactions more transparent. Minor scratches typically depreciate a car by about 5%, but proper repairs can mostly restore its value. Bottom line: spending a little to fix small issues protects the overall value—don’t lose big money just to save minor effort.
