The frame of your car is one of its vital safety features and it is the foundation on which the entire car is built. Modern car frames are now designed differently and built to prioritize more on safety and saving people’s lives. There are many car frames now that have crumple zones that are made to absorb the energy from impacts. Because of these crumple zones, the car frames will take some damage to increase the passenger’s safety. This makes the possibility of frame damage higher now compared to old vehicles even at low speed collisions. With frame damage being more common today, people will want to know the frame damage repair cost. Frame damage repair cost can vary depending on the severity of the damage and which part of the frame got damage. It can cost between $600 and $10,000 and the price can still go up.
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Frame Damage Repair Cost: Is frame damage serious?
A car frame is the structural support system of your car. It is its foundation and it is the one that can protect from accidents and such. It is designed and built to protect the passengers in case of an accident.
Many modern cars are now built with crumple zones. These crumple zones are designed and built fold in a crash to better absorb the energy of the impact. The foldings usually take place at the car’s front end, quarter panel or back bumper. The reason for this is that it can give less damage to the remaining parts of the vehicle and lessens the risk of injury.
A frame damage can be anything that compromises the vehicle frame’s structural integrity. It might be a result from an outside influence like a third-party collision or from an accident. If frame damage has been reported, it means that the vehicle’s key areas that give structural support have somehow become compromised making the vehicle not safe to drive.
There are instances where you can still drive your car after experiencing a frame damage, especially if you can still maintain a straight line and all the wheels are aligned. However, if you were to be involved in an accident again, your vehicle may not be able to give you protection from it. The protection it can give you depends on the extent of its frame damage.
If your vehicle has only minor damage and the rails are still intact and also most of the frame, it could still protect you since crumple zones are still fine. But with a severe frame damage, it won’t be able to protect you in a collision especially when the crumple zones have already been enacted and when you have a severely bent car frame or have some alignment issues.
All of the things stated above tell us that frame damage is a serious issue. Your safety and the safety of the people around you can be compromised if you don’t have it corrected right away. Depending on the severity of the damage, the frame damage repair cost can be expensive and it may take time to get the job done.
Frame Damage Repair Cost: Does frame damage mean totaled?
Frame damage repair cost can be costly depending on how severe the damage is. People might wonder if frame damage can mean that your vehicle will be totaled or if it is still worth having the frame damage repaired.
Most frame damage can be repaired and not all frame damage will you cost you an arm and a leg to be fixed. A damage to any parts or components of the vehicle’s main structure or any part of the vehicle that is made to provide structural integrity is called a frame damage. These components include the lower frame rails, any upper frame rails, and any suspension mounting location that can't be unfastened. For a unibody car frame, the components that can provide structural integrity include the windshield and rear window frames, rocker panels, and the A, B and C pillars.
A totaled car means that the cost of the repairs needed is much higher than the overall value of the car. A car will be considered a total loss when the cost of repair that might include the frame damage repair cost exceeds 75 percent of the value of the vehicle. There are also frame damages that are too severe that it can be rendered as a structural total loss.
Although there are some frame damages that can’t be rendered as a structural total loss, it can still devalue a car. In fact, one of the most damaging factors that determines a used car’s value is frame damage. The damage alone can cause a car to depreciate faster and lose between 30 to 70 percent of its market value.
Frame Damage Repair Cost: Can frame damage be repaired?
Frame damage can be repaired depending on its severity. But there are a lot of things that you need to consider when you choose to have your frame damage repaired. For one, you need to consider the cost. You need to determine if the frame damage repair cost exceeds the car’s market value. You also need to consider if the auto repair shop you choose can repair the frame damage properly.
Damaged car frames can be repaired and straightened to their original dimensions but you need to make sure that the repairs are done properly since it can compromise your safety. Make sure that you pick an auto repair shop that is known and well-experienced in repairing frame damages.
Frame damage repairs can be done by using specialized framing machines that can return the damage frames to as close as the original specifications. The framing machines utilize the hydraulic pressure and torque to straighten the bent parts of your car frame and if it can’t fix it, the affected frame parts will be cut off, removed and will be replaced with new metal pieces that are welded in place.
Frame Damage Repair Cost: How much does it cost to repair frame damage?
The frame damage repair cost depends on how serious and how severe the frame damage is. You can’t really tell the exact price until the auto body shop assesses and inspects the frame damage and tells you how much the frame damage repair cost will be. But it is known that the smaller the damage, the less expensive it will be to repair.
A simple bender fender or other minor bents can cost around $600 to $1,000 to fix. If the damage is too severe, the frame damage repair cost can go up to $10,000 since it might need extensive repairs. Severely damaged car frames might need replacing the entire sections that can be done by cutting off the old, affected parts and welding on the new. When this happens, industrial machines will be needed to stretch your car back to its original shape.
Frame Damage Repair Cost: Does insurance cover frame damage?
Car insurance usually helps cover the repair costs when the damages are caused by a collision or another covered accident like fire or theft. However, wear and tear repairs and other mechanical failures are not normally included in the auto insurance policy.
The insurance’s collision coverage can help pay for the needed repairs for damaged cars caused by an accident with another vehicle or an object like a tree or a fence. If you are in a single-car accident or if you roll over, this coverage can also provide help that includes coverage for damages caused from hitting a pothole. If your vehicle has suffered body damages or any mechanical issues due to a collision, this coverage can also help pay for the related repairs.
Frame Damage Repair Cost: How much does frame damage devalue a car?
It might not be that obvious but the car frame is one of the important mechanical components of your car. It is your car’s structural support system and it is where all the body and interior components are connected. It is a vital part of the vehicle. For this reason, any damage to it can result in the value depreciation of the vehicle. A frame damage alone can depreciate the value of the vehicle, losing around thirty to seventy percent of its market value.
Newer and more expensive cars tend to lose more value from frame damage due to an accident. Cars that are older that already have the normal wear and tear aside from the frame damage caused by an accident loses just a small percentage of its value compared to the new ones. This is because the less a car is worth prior to the damage, the less value it will lose.
The frame damage can cause a depreciation of an affected vehicle because of a number of reasons. One reason is that the frame damage can affect the resistance of the vehicle in the event of another accident making it not safe to drive anymore. Second reason is that frame damage can be too expensive and difficult to repair and this reduces the vehicle’s value even more. Another reason is that a frame damage that is caused by an accident can mean that it has other mechanical problems including the ones that have not yet been discovered or have yet to manifest.
Frame Damage Repair Cost: Can you sell a car with frame damage?
A car frame damage caused by an accident is expensive and can be too complicated to fix. Plus, it might not have the vehicle’s manufacturer safety standards anymore if you choose to have it repaired. If you don’t want to pay for the frame damage repair cost of your car and you just want to get rid of it, can you sell a car with a frame damage? You can but the frame damage issue must be disclosed. It can be disclosed in writing or in other ways and if you fail to disclose the car frame damage, it can turn into an auto fraud.
You can sell it but the selling price will not be that much since you will be selling a vehicle that has a frame damage and the chances of having someone buy a defective car is pretty slim. The best way to get rid of your damaged car and avoid any further depreciation is by selling it to cash for junk cars companies like the Cash Cars Buyer.
Frame Damage Repair Cost: Is it okay to buy a car with frame damage?
Frame damage repair cost is pretty expensive so unless you have a lot of money or are buying a classic car for a project, it is best that you steer clear in buying a car with a frame damage. The repairs you need to pay might outweigh more than what the car is worth in the long run. Although a car frame damage is fixable, it can cost a fortune and paying all the frame damage repair cost might not be worth it.
What if a dealer sells you a damaged vehicle? Selling a frame damaged car without disclosing the car’s condition is illegal but some dealers do that. For you to avoid purchasing a damaged vehicle, you can request for the vehicle history report. If the vehicle has indeed a frame damage, you can request for an inspection from a collision expert of your choice to determine the extent of the frame damage. If you are still determined to buy it, you can make some appropriate adjustments to the vehicle's sale price.
Frame Damage Repair Cost: Final Word
The vehicle’s frame damage repair cost can be very expensive but it is something one must not ignore. Ignoring it can compromise your safety and the structural integrity of your car since a weakened frame means that your vehicle won’t be able to survive another accident or collision in the future. Driving with an unrepaired frame damage can compromise your safety, the safety of your passengers, and the safety of other drivers and pedestrians as well.