{"id":6055,"date":"2022-10-10T11:15:00","date_gmt":"2022-10-10T09:15:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.faire-regulierung.de\/?p=6055"},"modified":"2026-07-03T10:56:35","modified_gmt":"2026-07-03T08:56:35","slug":"unfallwagen-verkaufen","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/fairforce.one\/en\/ratgeber\/unfallwagen-verkaufen\/","title":{"rendered":"Accident-damaged car - scrap or sell?"},"content":{"rendered":"
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A car involved in an accident does not automatically have to be scrapped. Whether it is worth repairing, selling or scrapping the vehicle depends primarily on the damage, the residual value and the condition of the vehicle. Whilst vehicles that have been professionally repaired can often still be sold for a good price, in the case of a write-off it usually makes sense to sell the vehicle at its residual value or to specialist buyers. In any case, it is important to ensure that accident damage is clearly disclosed, the residual value is accurately determined, and the decision to sell is not made hastily without first considering the insurance settlement.<\/p>\n

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In this guide, we explain what you need to know in order to sell your accident-damaged car.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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When is my crashed vehicle considered an \"accident vehicle\"?<\/h2>\n

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Not every car that has been involved in an accident has to be labelled as an accident vehicle straight away. But when is a vehicle involved in an accident considered an accident vehicle?<\/p>\n

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Unfortunately, the legislator has not made any clear regulations on this. In legal terms, an accident is any event that causes sudden, unintentional and permanent physical or mechanical damage. This includes not only a road traffic accident, but also the effects of fire, water or hail.<\/p>\n

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Nor is the distinction between minor damage and accident damage entirely clear-cut.\u00a0<\/p>\n

There is no fixed statutory threshold for minor damage. When selling a second-hand car, it is not so much a fixed amount in euros that matters, but rather the nature and severity of the damage. Minor damage is generally defined as only very slight, superficial paintwork damage. You should disclose any damage to the bodywork, structural damage or safety-related damage when selling the car \u2013 even if it has been professionally repaired.<\/p>\n

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Good to know<\/div>

You do not have to mention minor damage when selling, but you are obliged to provide information on request. If the damage is above the minor damage threshold, you must disclose it. If you conceal the damage, you are acting fraudulently. If you have not informed the buyer of the actual condition, contrary to your better judgement, the buyer is entitled to compensation. The exclusion of liability also loses its validity in a private sale. You will then quickly slip into the warranty for two years. A cancellation of the purchase is also conceivable.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Do you want clarity and support with your road accident?<\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Accident victims like you get the best support from fairforce.one.<\/p>

Have your accident reported now free of charge and without obligation<\/strong> by our regulation specialists.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Selling a professionally repaired vehicle<\/h2>\n

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Your vehicle has already been professionally repaired after a road accident and you would now like to sell it?<\/p>\n

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Then we have good news for you: a vehicle that has had all the damage professionally repaired does not have to lose much in price compared to an accident-free used car. The price is often only slightly lower than that of an accident-free vehicle.<\/p>\n

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Often the dealership that carried out the manufacturer-compliant repair is also a good contact for the trade-in of the vehicle.
Why: The workshop now knows exactly how good the vehicle is and which parts have been fitted. The sellers often already have a prospective buyer in mind to whom they can resell the refurbished vehicle. At the same time, the purchase of the successor vehicle generates additional margin, which can be passed on to you as a price advantage.<\/p>\n

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Important<\/div>

You must be able to provide evidence of the repair at the time of sale. As a rule, a detailed repair invoice from the garage and the damage assessment report are sufficient for this purpose. It is particularly important when selling a used car to be transparent about the damage that has been repaired. Buyers tend to be rather sceptical, and the more transparent you are, the more trust you can build.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/p>\n

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Note<\/strong>Private sellers can exclude liability in the purchase contract when selling their accident vehicle. This will ensure that they do not have to pay for existing but hidden damage. Do not give any guarantees that may turn out to be false in retrospect. Guarantees refer to assurances, for example, as to whether the original engine has been installed. Describe the condition of the vehicle as precisely as possible in the purchase contract. Document the accident with the same care.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Selling a totalled car<\/h2>\n

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Would you like to sell your car with a total loss? Firstly, it is important to know when a total loss has occurred. An economic total loss is when the repair is no longer profitable. If a vehicle of the same type and quality can be obtained on the market for less money than the professional repair would cost, it is usually a so-called economic total loss. The car can often still be driven, but would no longer be authorised for road use in this condition.<\/span><\/p>\n

The threshold for a total write-off is reached when the repair\u00a0<\/span>130% of the calculated replacement value<\/a>\u00a0(at what price can a motor vehicle of the same type and quality currently be bought on the market) exceeds.<\/span><\/p>\n

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The residual value of the damaged vehicle is determined as part of the appraisal by placing a meaningful advert on various residual value exchanges. This work is carried out by the expert. Regional and national vehicle buyers place binding purchase offers on the residual value exchanges. The insurance company liable to pay benefits will accept the highest residual value offer as the sale proceeds to be realised and reduce its benefits by precisely this amount. The reasoning is simple: the missing money for replacement is ultimately to be collected from the buyer of the total loss vehicle.<\/span><\/p>\n

Sample calculation:<\/b><\/p>\n

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