Somebody clipped my left rear fender over the wheel well while we were having dinner a few nights ago. Of course, no note was left and there were no cameras! I have an estimate for just over $2500 to fix it and with a $2K deductible on my insurance it's not worth claiming.

 

Hi @BruceR ,

This brings a tear to my eye...you have such a beautiful car.

I too would probably pass on the claim and just get it repaired on your own. You want to keep it out of carfax if you can. Something as silly as this can really take a hit on a resale/trade-in. It could only be reported as an accident on carfax (even if carfax calls it minor), yet it is far from anything even minor.

Best,


BTW - I'm getting ready to move to central Fla next month and all the accidents I've seen from Fla on my other car forums is worrisome.

 

Thanks & Welcome to Florida! AZ to FL might be quite a shock with the humidity we have here. My agent said the same thing about keeping it off Carfax.

 

Hi Bruce,

Yes, wherever you take it to get repaired talk to them about if/how they report to carfax. More than repair places, CF usually gets its info from insurance companies. So if you avoid that, you are 3/4 home. Once an accident is reported on CF for your vin, you're going to lose anywhere from 10% to 25% of the value of an unmolested similar car. Even though the damage and repair will be nothing, to a buyer, all they will see is ACCIDENT REPORTED. Some (I am one) won't buy an accident car or a lemon buy back, flood car, etc. Even at a discount. Some will, but your buying audience will shrink alot.

We looked in Naples and where we originally wanted to land, but new builds there were harder to find and way outside of Naples more into the interior. Too far from 5th ave...hahaaa

 

The place I'm taking it should keep it off CF since it's a cash deal but I'll be sure to verify that before dropping it off. Pricing in Naples has gone bananas in the last few years. We built in 2014 and similar homes are now selling for triple the price!

 

Yeah, that's what has happened to us here in Scottsdale a few times now. Prices are crazy and not slowing down. I expect the bottom might go out eventually, but nothing near 2008. That was a unique situation. We were cash rich in 2008 while just about everyone else was defaulting. It was like being in a candy store in 2009 if you were not upside down.

 

Bruce
So, so sorry to see that beautiful car damaged. As others have said, be careful on the CF reporting. I was in the IT services business for many, years and these days most Police agencies and repair shops have a direct upload link installed on their computer systems to CarFax. When an accident report is entered or a repair invoice generated, the info is automatically uploaded to CarFax. Not much you can do about the Police Report (If in fact you did one) but you can ask the shop owner if they have a CarFax link installed on their system and if so tell them not to generate an invoice.

 

Yes, completely agree with you...and, too, the police report that links a report directly to CF.

Also agree that if you go to your insurance Co and only ASK for an estimate...unfortunately, the damage is probably already done even if you decide not to use insurance. Once they put the data in to generate a cost, the report has already been sent to CF.


Bruce,

Sometimes (rarely) the report is missed and doesn't show up on CF. If you're curious, give this about 60 maybe 90 days and buy the CF report for your car.
Here is an example of a car with an accident. It is not the complete report, I just did a screen capt of the title page and what the buyer can see. Coincidentally, this is a car for sale right now at a dealer in Naples and this CF is on a public site

 

Thanks for that. I just called the shop and asked about CF and they assured me they are not connected to it and do not make any reports. So, since insurance is not involved and there's no police report my baby will remain a virgin - for now!

 

Ugh that's terrible. Fortunate the repair estimate is that low.

 

Looks like you have your bases covered. Good luck with the repair, hopefully she is back to her beautiful, virgin self soon.

 

Picked up the car today. Looks good, perfect match on the paint. $2543 & no Carfax report.

 

Glad you are whole again Bruce. Beautiful car you have.

 

Thanks!

 

Wow !
Very nice work on the body line !
l think you were pulling our legs, those are two different cars of the same color.... 😅🤣😅

Probably should delete this thread.. 🤔

Johnny