How to Use the Accident-Free vs Accident History Price Gap Calculator
Even with the same make, model, year, and mileage, a vehicle with accident history usually sells for less than an identical accident-free one. This calculator takes the accident-free price and the accident's severity (minor or major), then estimates the price gap and the expected resale price for the accident-history vehicle.
Minor damage — simple bodywork and paint on panels like bumpers or fenders — tends to have a relatively small effect on price, while major damage involving structural rails or the frame being cut and welded carries a much bigger discount because buyers worry about long-term safety and reliability. This calculator applies roughly a 7% drop for minor damage and 20% for major damage as a general market tendency.
Actual price gaps vary with the model's popularity, where the damage occurred, repair quality, and supply and demand at the time of sale. Confirm the real accident history through an official vehicle history report, and use this calculator's output as a starting point for negotiation or pricing research.
Frequently Asked Questions
Minor damage generally means simple bodywork and paint on panels like bumpers or fenders. Major damage means the frame or structural rails were bent, cut, or welded. A vehicle history report is the most reliable way to confirm which category applies.
It reflects a general market tendency, not an exact figure. Actual price gaps vary with the model's popularity, where the damage occurred, repair quality, and supply and demand at the time of sale, so treat this as a reference only.