Car repairs can be expensive. If you have experienced a harsh accident that left some serious after-impacts on your vehicle, then bringing it back to its original shape could be a challenge and can be very costly.

If you need to get your car repaired and are thinking if your vehicle is worth repairing or if you should just buy another car at this point, then don’t worry because here we will clear all your confusion.

When Should You Get Your Car Repaired?

To explain if you should get your car repaired, we will use an example. Consider that your car is worth about $7,000, and the auto repair shop gave you an estimate of $2,500 to get it fully repaired.

So, the first thing you should research is if those $2,500 bring any value to your car. It means that after spending those $2,500, your car’s original value should be around $9,500 or above.

Now, you should consider buying another decent car for the original value of your car and repair costs combined. This means you should search for some vehicles in the range of $9,500 and check if they suit your needs.

Finally, consider if you have spare time to spend in the workshop and are ready to take the stress of getting your car repaired.

Remember that repairing a car could be very time-consuming, and you need to remain patient throughout the process.

If you can’t make spare time and need a car urgently for your daily travel, then you should consider the second option of buying a new car.

How Much Will It Cost to Fix Your Car?

Vehicles can have a number of possible problems. If you had a severe accident, the repair costs could be very high because the mechanic needs to fix a range of things, including the engine, mechanical work, electric wiring, and more.

Sometimes a car is not used for a long time, due to which a number of underlying problems are caused.

It’s always recommended to visit two to three auto repair shops and get repair estimates. You might be thinking that there is a minor problem due to which the car is not starting. But the mechanic might say that you need an engine overhaul.

If you are a professional driver, then you might diagnose the problems on your own. Once you diagnose the problem, the next thing is to find rates of spare parts you will need.

You can easily find all the spare parts online. Once you know the rates, you need to find reputed mechanics near you who will help you efficiently replace the spare parts.

Do Some Math

Once you have gathered all the information about repair costs and added the cost of spare parts and labor, then it’s time to get a correct estimate of the current market value of your car.

You can search for ‘auto repair shop near me’ on maps and visit any nearby workshop to get an estimate about the repairs and the current market value of your car.

If the repairs are half the market value of your car, you should have second thoughts about whether you should get those repairs or just sell your car.

As discussed before, think if those repairs will add any value to your car when you decide to sell it in the future. If the answer is no, you should sell your vehicle and use the money you spent on repairs to buy a new car.

List the Pros and Cons

You have driven your car for quite some time, and you know its positive and negative sides. Now, the time has come that you list out the pros and cons of your car along with the pros and cons of the car you can buy after selling it.

Some people prefer bigger engines, some go for fuel efficiency, while some are looking for a car that offers a luxurious drive.

List down your needs and see if the car you already own fits those criteria or if the new vehicle will also offer the same pros.

If your needs are not fulfilled by the new car in that budget, you should consider repairing the older one.

A negative point of getting your old car repaired is that you might need frequent maintenance because the after-market spare markets can never be good enough to compete with genuine ones.

On the other hand, if you buy a new car, you don’t need to visit the workshop frequently. Just get regular oil maintenance, and you will be all set for a long time.

You can easily make an informed decision based on all the facts without getting confused. Online platforms and mechanically-minded friends can also offer their help in this regard.