To Repair, or Not Repair, That Is The Question. (Dents & Scratches) before Selling RAV4 Hybrid 2022?

Lmrpman on 06/01/2025 - 09:48
Last edited 06/01/2025 - 09:56 by 1 other user

As soon as I need to sell my immaculate RAV4 Hybrid Cruiser, I go and dent/scratch it three times in a week. I'm only selling because I need to go overseas but I am forced to decide whether to sell it as-is or repair the dents/scratches first.

I have no idea of what a dent repair costs. I was wondering if the scratch could be repaired with a paint pen. However, mostly I want to know if I will see a return on my investment if I fork out the money to repair. Right now, the RAV4 Hybrid market is hot so I am tempted to just sell it as-is. I will of course show the dents on the advertisement as a curtesy to buyers.

Most of the dents and scratches are on the plastic fenders at the front and back. There is minimal scratching on the actual metal body of the car.

What the experience been of other car buyers/sellers?

Automotive Car SUV Toyota

Comments

  • shxhshzhz on 06/01/2025 - 09:49
    +1

    Add images

  • Jimothy Wongingtons on 06/01/2025 - 09:52
    +3

    Just sell it as is imo

  • Gunnar on 06/01/2025 - 09:55
    +2

    Pro Repairing: the car will be easier to sell because it’s in better condition

    Con Repairing: tou won’t get your money back on repairs

    Personally I wouldn’t repair it and just be flexible on your price / expect
    To get it for lower

  • Baysew on 06/01/2025 - 09:57
    +4

    Find out how much it will cost to repair, then make a decision.

    • Pelicannn on 06/01/2025 - 10:07

      This.

      I’d find a buyer and find out what it costs concurrently. Once you have both of those tell the buyer along the lines of what the cost is to repair and leave it in their court.

      Options include:

      1. If they want it fixed they can pay you a deposit, you get it fixed and then they buy the car. I’d charge more than the cost of the repair or be less flexible on price if this is their choice. It’s going to cost you time and money after all.
      2. They won’t care or they will fix it themselves and you’ve saved yourself some time. Potentially sell at a discount to cover the cost of them fixing it.
    • sumyungguy on 06/01/2025 - 11:09
      +1

      If preparing for sale I'd first try a PDR tech

  • coffeeinmyveins on 06/01/2025 - 09:58
    +1

    I have no idea of what a dent repair costs.

    I was wondering if the scratch could be repaired with a paint pen.

    How long is a piece of string.

    Not all dents and scratches are created equal.

    Some can be done with paintless dent repair and touch ups, some require panels to be resprayed, and some require half the car to be resprayed to blend it.

    It all comes down to how severe the scratches are, where they are, how big they are, and what type of paint your car has.

    I would just sell it "as is". The cost to fix these things professionally will be at least $1k, and you won't get any ROI on that.

    Also do not use a touch up pen. Depending on the type of paint, it will make it look even worse.

  • Fredfloresjr on 06/01/2025 - 09:58

    Sold my forester 6 months ago with windshield tiny crack, some dents and scratches, and sold it more than I expected. Not advertising, but try cars24. They did the check via video call, finalised the price, funds deposited to my account and someone picked up the car after few days. Very easy.

    • mrpman on 06/01/2025 - 10:11

      Thanks for the recommendation. I was going to use carsales.com.au but I will check out cars24 now.

    • plmko on 06/01/2025 - 10:45
      +2

      That's because you sold the car below market and they fix it cheaply with their internal teams. So their tolerance for wear is high.

      Last time I ran comparative quotes with them they had priced my car $6k below what I ended up selling it for (after discounting further for the buyer)

      • Fredfloresjr on 06/01/2025 - 11:42

        Bad luck, I ended up $3-4k above the market, I have multiple less offers from other external parties, including from marketplace and gumtree. Tbh, was impressed how they made the business overall. No dramas and no time wasting.

    • bbinc on 06/01/2025 - 10:23

      It’s dodgem car land out there!
      I used to worry about scratches, but if you park anywhere but your own driveway the car will collect a few, especially on the corners. (Having said that, that little red mark on my front bumper seems to be the same colour as my gate …)
      As a buyer I’d be looking at the overall value and mechanical condition of the vehicle and whether it’s been crash repaired.
      I’d also want to know the cost of replacing the damaged badge.

  • Brick Tamland on 06/01/2025 - 10:28
    +1

    Those are fair bumps and marks so you would need to consider taking at least couple grand off the price.

    I'd get quotes for repairs.

    The back bumper is probably the worse and I'd get that fixed at least.

  • Euphemistic on 06/01/2025 - 10:35
    -1

    Go watch a couple of youtube videos of how to pop the indent put of the bumper using boiling water. Leave the scratches and adjust price down a bit. Many people wont mind the odd scratch but dont like dents.

    • Mechz on 06/01/2025 - 11:16

      I'm the opposite. Dents don't rust.

      • Euphemistic on 06/01/2025 - 12:17
        +1

        Neither do scratches in plastic bumpers.

  • Gros21 on 06/01/2025 - 11:46
    +5

    I would walk away or pay way under market price for this as it shows me you are a horrible driver, i also check for gutter rash and other signs that you cant drive or simiply are super cheap such as chinease special tyres

    • Euphemistic on 06/01/2025 - 12:20

      For every buyer who will walk away, there is another buyer that is willing but just wants it cheaper. If the cost of repair is more than the reduction in an offer, then its not worth relairing.

    • mrpman on 06/01/2025 - 14:00
      +1

      Actually I'm a very sensible and cautious driver (not so much as a scratch in 23 years and only two speeding fines).

      However, I still take your point. It does give the impression that I haven't been driving it well. Bummer.

      Luckily there isn't any gutter rash and the energy monitor shows non-aggressive driving (plus full servicing & maintenance records).

      • kerfuffle on 07/01/2025 - 08:44

        So how do you explain all the damages to the car, especially to the Toyota logo?

  • jackary on 06/01/2025 - 12:01
    +3

    Same as commenter above, I’d walk away. A car is a big investment, and if this is what the car looks like after 2 years, I’d have big questions about how it had been driven and maintained in that time.

  • MS Paint on 06/01/2025 - 13:51
    +2

    I was expecting a few scratches that would buff out. FFS I was really wrong.

  • Kelpei on 07/01/2025 - 01:51

    I'd just sell it as is. You likely will not get your money back on repairs and who knows, you may find a buyer who isn't so anal about cosmetic scrapes and scratches.

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