How Much Value Does a Car Lose After Body Repair and Painting?
2 Answers
Generally, if a car has been in a major accident where the frame or main pillars were damaged and required repair, it may depreciate by approximately 10% to 30%. However, minor body repairs and painting typically do not result in significant value loss. Introduction to Automotive Body Repair: Automotive body repair refers to the process where noticeable deformations in the vehicle are addressed. Repair technicians use methods such as cutting, stretching, or grinding to correct the deformation, followed by applying body filler to reshape the car body, aiming to restore the damaged section as closely as possible to its original condition. Cars are primarily composed of structural components and exterior panels. The structural components mainly include the four beams and six pillars, and damage to these areas usually occurs during major accidents or collisions. In general, most modern cars feature aluminum alloy bodies, which require specialized aluminum powder and curing powder for filling and repair, though these materials are relatively costly. To reduce expenses, many repair shops opt to use ordinary body filler instead. While the visual appearance may seem identical after painting, the performance may degrade over time, potentially leading to deformation again.
Honestly, the depreciation of a car after bodywork and repainting really can't be generalized—it depends on the specifics of the situation. If it's just minor scratch repairs with such high-quality surface painting that the marks are almost invisible, the depreciation might only be around 5%, costing just a few thousand dollars off the car's value. However, if it involves major accident repairs, like replacing an entire door or bumper with mismatched paint colors, the car's value in the used market could drop significantly, by as much as 20% or more. Buyers often suspect hidden issues, such as structural safety or future problems, and pay extra attention to seams and paint uniformity during inspections. Having bought and sold several cars myself, I advise sellers to honestly disclose repair records and use high-quality services to minimize depreciation—after all, integrity is valuable. For regular maintenance, avoid random roadside shops; choosing a more professional place can save a lot of hassle.
