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How much does a dent affect car value?

I’m looking at selling my car, but can't decide if I should fix the dent it has first. How much does a dent affect car value?

avatar
Will Baldwin · Updated on
Reviewed by Shannon Martin, Licensed Insurance Agent.
A good rule of thumb is if the dent is visible from about 10 feet away or if the paint has scratches, it can cause a 5%-10% depreciation of your car’s value.
To determine how a dent impacts your
car’s value
, use Kelley Blue Book or Edmunds. Both sites can estimate the value of your car based on its current state. Then, you can use the same estimator to find your car’s value without a dent.
If the value increases significantly without a dent, you’ll want to consider
fixing it
. If the dent doesn’t cause a significant amount of depreciation, it may not be worth spending the extra money to fix it.
You could also take your car to an
auto body repair shop
to get an estimate on the cost of repairs.
Once you sell your car, consider using
Jerry
for your new car’s insurance. Jerry gathers personalized quotes from top insurance providers, including protection against dents. The average user saves $879 a year!
View full answer 
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Jerry partners with more than 50 insurance companies, but our content is independently researched, written, and fact-checked by our team of editors and agents. We aren’t paid for reviews or other content.

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