Time For The Scrapyard? Evaluating Your Car After An Accident
When you've got a new or expensive car, there's usually a predictable series of events following an accident. After handling the process of dealing with insurance, you typically get a check, repair your car, and go on your way. In some cases, the insurance company may decide that your car is a total write-off and simply cut you a check for its value.
But, what happens when you drive an old car? Your car might be reliable transportation, but that doesn't necessarily mean that it's worth repairing. If you're holding an insurance check and staring at a broken-down old junker in your yard, then you've got a hard choice to make. Here are three questions you can ask to determine if it's time to send your vehicle off to its final resting place.
1. Can You Handle the Repairs Yourself?
A cheap option for fixing up accident damage is repairing it yourself. Even if your car isn't worth much, you might be able to get it back on the road for the cost of a few parts while still pocketing some of your insurance money. Do-it-yourself repairs are an excellent choice for keeping an old car on the road, especially if you can live with any cosmetic damage from the accident.
If you can't fix it yourself, then it may be worth considering calling a scrapyard. You can add the cash you get for handing over your car to your insurance money, allowing you to buy into something newer, safer, and more comfortable.
2. Is There Structural Damage?
rame damage is a more complex concept with modern unibody cars. If your unibody vehicle has significant damage to its body panels, it likely has some structural damage. While skilled auto body shops can repair some of this damage, your car may never drive the same again. Older vehicles with rust or previous structural damage are even more likely to be affected.
In these cases, it may be time to say goodbye to your old car. Although you can use your insurance money to repair it, there's a good chance the accident will have permanently compromised its handling or even safety. Selling your junk car for cash allows you to put it to good use one final time.
3. Are You Ready to Say Goodbye?
Don't ignore the importance of how you feel. If you were already getting sick of driving your old beater, an accident might be the perfect time to send it on its way. Even if you previously felt that your car's scrap value couldn't justify handing it over to a junkyard, you've now got the added incentive of an insurance check.
Although it can hurt to junk a trusted automotive companion, sometimes it's best to put a few extra dollars into your wallet and move on to bigger and better things.
