You might be curious as to your salvage title car’s worth or perhaps you’re pondering whether to sell a damaged car.  If so, you may have been discouraged by the news that several U.S. automotive businesses devalue salvaged title vehicles by 10% - 50% of the retail value of the vehicle without a salvage title.  However, keep in mind that the U.S. is a free market, which means that any object is worth what the market is willing to pay for it.  There have been instances of a salvage vehicle being sold for 90% of the clear title value because it was a popular make and model.

Here are a few tips for realistically evaluating your salvage car’s worth:

• Be real – don’t trick yourself into over rating your salvage car.  Any used car will have wear and tear.  Even if you’ve kept the car in wonderful shape, it will never be as fresh as a new car.  So be honest about how your car compares with others on the road.
• Appearances matter – a good wash and wax go a long way to improving your car’s value.  It’s very similar to the curb value of your home.  That means you need to clean the carpets and get rid of the cookie or pizza crumbs.
• No pimping your ride – personalization reduces a car’s value and makes it harder to sell.  So unless you plan to keep the car for life, skip the fancy paint job.  Again, the house model applies:  you increase the chances of selling your house when it’s clean and beige.
• Paperwork is a drag but – every car needs the proper documentation.  Do you have the title, registration, smog certificate, etc?

Everyone wants to know a car’s current cash value. This depends on factors such as age, mileage, condition, trim level, and even the region where it’s being sold.  Be honest, have all your documents and keep your used car clean to increase its worth.

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