Is a slightly damaged car imported from abroad worth buying? In many cases, it is an economically viable choice. However, before you decide to import such a vehicle, you need to thoroughly inspect it before purchase. One valuable piece of information is the total value of damage. How can you find out about the total value of the damage on a slightly damaged car?

Is a slightly damaged car from abroad worth buying?

The internet is full of numerous offers for slightly damaged cars, mainly imported from the USA and Dubai, though sometimes these offers include cars from Western Europe as well. Why do sellers choose to sell slightly damaged cars, instead of repairing them? In the USA and in some European countries, repair costs are very high (especially labour costs). Additionally, the residents of wealthier countries can afford to replace cars more frequently. It’s no wonder they get rid of 5, 6, or 8-year-old cars instead of fixing them. A slightly damaged car is considerably cheaper than an undamaged one, which makes it worthwhile to import and repair it and really save a lot of money. But only if the seller or the intermediary (an importer or an auction house) is honest about the car’s actual condition.

Remember, scammers exist everywhere

Nowadays, many reliable auction houses independently verify the technical condition of the cars they sell, often (in the case of American cars) publishing a VIN report from CarFax. However, you must remember that you need to pay to access these services while a dishonest seller may demonstrate a fake report. Also, when buying a car through an intermediary (a private person or company operating in the USA, European Union, or Dubai), you’re purchasing from a private owner, which generates further risk.

Is the car really only slightly damaged? Verify the value of damage before buying it

Why should you verify the total value of damage before buying a car? Because the seller (whether it’s a private owner, intermediary, auction house, independent importer or a company) could be simply lying. A seller or intermediary might claim the repair cost to be a few hundred euros, whereas the actual cost could run into thousands or even tens of thousands of euros. They may also convince you that the car has only minor damage, supposedly limited only to its bodywork. The reality, though, could be very different.

A “slightly damaged” car that was actually heavily damaged

A seller or intermediary might claim that the car is slightly damaged in order to hide the fact that it was involved in a serious accident. The car may have been partially repaired to mask major damage. What’s the point of this strategy? The buyer knows they’re buying a damaged car, so they’re less likely to check for additional damage. This way, an unscrupulous seller can sell a car with a total loss history.

A slightly damaged car that costs thousands to repair

Can a slightly damaged car require repairs that cost thousands, or even tens of thousands of euros? Unfortunately, yes. Here are some cases:

• Damaged LED headlights: A new LED headlight costs between €1,000 and €4,000, depending on the car model.
• Battery replacement in electric vehicles: This can cost from several thousand euros to over €25,000.
• Hybrid car battery damage: Costs range from a few thousand euros to tens of thousands of euros, depending on the damage.
• Damaged panoramic roof: Replacement costs a minimum of a few thousand euros.
• Premium car windshield replacement: This can cost several thousand euros.
• Aluminum bodywork damage: Aluminum body parts are not always possible to repair and are expensive to replace. Not only premium cars contain aluminum – for instance, the body of the Audi A2 was made of aluminium.
• Carbon fiber body parts: These materials are mainly used in high-end sports and premium cars, where even bumper replacement could cost tens of thousands of euros.
• Premium car with expensive parts.
• Cars from other continents or classics: Parts can be very costly to import.

How to check the value of damage in a post-accident or post-collision vehicle

It’s very simple and cheap. All you need is the VIN number of the car you want to buy. Then, visit our website, crashstatus.com, and enter the VIN number in the search bar. Check if the car has any recorded damages. If the answer is yes, then purchase the premium report. Crash Status uses the largest insurance database available. When you confirm your order, you’ll receive an email. Within a maximum of 30 minutes, you’ll get a VIN report via email, stating the value of damage estimated by the car’s insurer.

This way, you’ll find out whether the car was really only slightly damaged, which will help you in making a more informed purchase.