What Are The Most Expensive Car Parts & Problems to Repair? What Can I Do if Repair Costs Exceed My Car's Value?

The Most Expensive Car Repair Problems You Can Have

Cars can be expensive to maintain, especially as they get older. If you’re unfortunate, you might encounter a particularly expensive problem that makes you throw your hands up and decide it’s time to sell. The following are five of the most expensive problems you might encounter.

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5. Suspension Problems

Your suspension system includes your tires, springs and shock absorbers. It’s designed to help provide a smooth and safe ride on the road. If your suspension goes out, driving could become a safety hazard. Additionally, a broken suspension could easily damage other parts of your car.

Suspension repair costs often come in at around $1,500 or more. In some cases, you may only need to replace small parts of the suspension, which will cost between $200 and $500. For more serious problems, you could easily see a price tag in the thousands.

4. Airbag Replacement

After any incident that triggers your airbags, you’ll need to have them replaced. Unfortunately, this is an expensive job on all it’s own. This can be a major financial hit, since most car crashes require additional repair work outside of replacing the airbags.

For most cars, the airbag replacement cost is around $1,000 per airbag. If multiple airbags went off, that number would go up fast.

3. Transmission Failure

The transmission transmits power from your engine to your driveshaft, making it a vital component in your vehicle. If the transmission goes out, your car can’t drive. Unfortunately, this important component comes with a hefty cost.

Transmission repair costs generally come in at around $1,000. However, in some cases you need to replace the transmission. This is a far more expensive process. Expect to pay anywhere from $1,500 to $6,000 for a new transmission.

2. A Dead Hybrid Battery

Hybrid cars can lower your total gas mileage and carbon footprint, making them a great choice for the eco-conscious. However, these cars typically run on a special battery on top of a standard small 12V. If the hybrid battery goes out, you have an expensive problem on your hands.

Most hybrid batteries are expected to last between eight and ten years. A new hybrid battery costs up to $6,000.

1. Engine Failure

The engine is by far the most important component in your car. If it goes, you may as well not have a car. That’s why engine maintenance is so important. A well-maintained engine can last you close to 200,000 miles.

However, if something is wrong with the engine or you fail to take care of it, it could fail on you well before you’re ready to retire your car. A new engine will cost you $4,000 to $8,000 on average. This kind of cost might force you to decide whether you’re still interested in keeping the car, or whether it’s time to junk it.

When To Sell Your Damaged Car

At a certain point, spending money trying to repair your vehicle is sinking funds into a car without reason. The older the car is or the more serious its problems are, the greater the chance that you’ll have more expensive problems down the road.

You can save money by selling your damaged car and putting your profits, plus what you saved from not performing repairs, towards the purchase of a newer, more reliable vehicle.

A good rule of thumb for when to sell: if the cost of repairing your car is 50 percent or more of your car’s value, it might be time to put it on the market. Of course, you have to factor other considerations as well, including:

• How long will it take to repair my car?

• How long can I go without a car?

• Will I have to pay for a rental while I wait?

You should consider all of the above before deciding whether to sell your car or repair it. If it looks like the cost and inconvenience of trying to repair your car outweighs the benefits, it’s time to begin considering your options for getting rid of it.

Why Sell To CarBrain?

CarBrain is the market for less-than-perfect cars. We have over a decade of experience determining fair market values for damaged vehicles, so we know how to make a fair offer on your car. We can produce a quote in under 90 seconds, allowing you to find out what your vehicle is worth fast.

Our offers always include FREE towing and FREE title transfer, so you don’t have to worry about transportation costs. There are no fees to use our service whatsoever — we pay you, not the other way around. Additionally, CarBrain offers are guaranteed for seven days, so you have time to think it over before making the sale.

CarBrain is the modern, safe and easy way to sell your damaged car fast. We can help you schedule a pickup in under 48 business hours. You can complete the entire process online from the comfort of your own home.

Why wait? Get an offer from CarBrain and get started now.

How To Sell Your Damaged Car To CarBrain

To sell your damaged car to CarBrain, all you have to do is:

1. Click “get an offer.”

2. Fill out the form.

3. Get your quote!

You can get a guaranteed quote fast by uploading photos of your vehicle and its VIN. Once you have our quote, you can decide if you want to sell to us. If you do, our buyers can help you schedule your free pickup at a time convenient to you.

The tow truck driver will arrive with a check in hand. All you have to do is present the keys and sign the title, and you’ll be paid on the spot. It’s that simple!

Sell your car from home. Contact CarBrain and get started today.