Getting into an accident is stressful enough. Then, after the car is repaired, another question can come up: “Is my car worth less now because it was in an accident?” It's a reasonable question. Even if your vehicle looks great after the repair, an accident can become part of its history. And when you eventually sell or trade the vehicle, that history may matter to a potential buyer or dealership. This is where the term diminished value comes in. But does every minor accident

A minor collision can leave behind nothing more than a dent, ding, or small amount of cosmetic damage. Your car still drives normally. There may be no obvious mechanical problems. So you might wonder: Can a small accident really affect my car's resale value? The answer is: it can. How much it matters depends on the type of damage, the condition of the vehicle, how the damage is repaired, and whether the accident becomes part of the vehicle's history. If you've recently had a