A car with accident damage, a mechanical fault or an engine that won't start can still be sold in Switzerland. Private buyers are rarely interested, but dealers and car buyers like SellCar buy damaged cars every day. This guide explains your options, how damage affects the price and what you must tell the buyer.
Repairing a car before you sell it only makes sense if the repair adds more to the price than it costs. That is often the case for small cosmetic damage on a newer car, and rarely the case for major repairs on an older one.
| Type of damage | Examples | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| Cosmetic | Scratches, dents, scuffed bumpers, worn seats | Lowers the price a little. Small repairs before a private sale can pay off. |
| Accident damage | Damaged body panels, airbags deployed, frame damage | Repaired or not, the accident must be disclosed. The price depends on the extent of the damage. |
| Mechanical fault | Engine, gearbox, clutch, electronics, warning lights | Repairs can be expensive; selling as it is is often the better choice. |
| Not driveable | Engine won't start, major accident damage | Can still be sold. SellCar collects it for free, anywhere in Switzerland. |
Be open about all damage and defects you know about, including past accidents that have been repaired. Private sellers often exclude warranty in the sales contract, but such an exclusion does not protect a seller who knowingly hides a defect – the buyer could still claim against you. List known damage in the contract: it protects you as much as the buyer.
When you sell to SellCar, we inspect the car ourselves and record its condition in the contract, so there are no surprises later.
If the car was damaged in an accident, talk to your insurer before you sell or repair it. If the insurer declares the car a total loss, it usually pays out based on the car's value and takes the remaining value of the wreck into account. Ask your insurer whether you may keep the car and sell it yourself, and how that affects the payout – sometimes an independent offer is higher than the value the insurer assumes.
Yes. SellCar buys cars that are not driveable, for example with engine failure or major accident damage. We inspect the car where it is and collect it for free, anywhere in Switzerland.
Yes. Disclose all damage and defects you know about, including repaired accident damage. A warranty exclusion in the contract does not protect a seller who knowingly hides a defect.
Only if the repair adds more to the price than it costs. Get a repair quote and an offer for the car as it is, then compare.
Ask your insurer first. It usually takes the remaining value of the wreck into account in the payout. If you may keep the car, you can sell it – an independent offer is sometimes higher than the value the insurer assumes.
Yes. We buy cars of every make and condition, including cars with engine, gearbox or electronic faults. Describe the problem in the valuation form so we can make an accurate offer.
What drives the value of a used car, why private and dealer prices differ, and how to get a realistic figure.
Read the guide →GuideWhen the MFK is due, how it affects the price, whether to do it before you sell and what "fresh from MFK" really means.
Read the guide →GuidePrice, speed, effort and risk of each way to sell your car – and how to choose the right one for you.
Read the guide →
