Honestly, I tried fixing a couple dings and scratches before trading in my old Corolla, thinking I’d get a better offer. Spent a few hundred bucks, but the dealer barely blinked—think they upped the value by like $100. Total letdown. Unless it’s something major or super noticeable, I kinda feel like it’s not worth the hassle or cash. Dealers seem to have their own math for “character.”
Yeah, I’ve been there too—put in the effort thinking it’d pay off, but the dealer just shrugged. Honestly, unless it’s a huge dent or something that screams “fix me,” I don’t bother anymore. Their math is a mystery...
I swear, the way they come up with those numbers must involve a dartboard and blindfolds. I had a bumper scuff once—barely noticeable unless you squinted—and the estimate was like, “Here’s $50, good luck.” Meanwhile, my neighbor’s car looked like it’d been through a demolition derby and somehow got a check big enough to fund a small vacation.
Honestly, unless it’s something that’ll haunt me every time I walk past my car, I just let it slide. The hassle of arguing with insurance or the dealer rarely feels worth it for minor stuff. That said, if you’re seeing a big gap between what you think it should be and what they’re offering (like hundreds, not tens), sometimes pushing back does get results. Just depends how much energy you’ve got for paperwork and phone tag... which for me is usually zero after a long commute.
Yeah, I get what you mean. I usually just eat the cost for small stuff—my time’s worth more than a $60 check and a week of calls. But has anyone actually won a fight with insurance over something minor? Or does it just drag out forever?
my time’s worth more than a $60 check and a week of calls
Man, I feel this deep in my soul. Last year, I spent three days arguing over a $45 windshield chip repair. By the end, I think I lost more hair than money. They finally caved and sent me a check, but honestly... was it worth the stress? Not sure. Sometimes I wonder if they just hope we’ll give up out of sheer exhaustion. Anyone else ever get that “we’re reviewing your claim” email for weeks on end?
