Article
Frame Related Diminished Value
Frame and structural repairs weigh most heavily on a vehicle’s resale value. They show up on history reports, many certified pre-owned programs exclude them, and buyers worry about how the car will hold up in a future crash. Here is why, and how an appraisal accounts for it.
Published · Updated · Reviewed by Monica Fisher · 1 min read
Modern trucks, vans, and SUVs have specific repair requirements that make them susceptible to frame-related diminished value.
Body-on-frame vehicles are not as simple as they used to be.
Design changes in late-model trucks and SUVs add to the repair complexity of these full-frame vehicles. Highly engineered crush zones are now a part of designs that require specific repair techniques. Lighter, stronger components let vehicle makers achieve better fuel economy, safety, and performance. Characteristics of these newer designs make it important that manufacturer’s repair procedures are followed to avoid compromising safety.
Areas of Concern for Diminished Value from Frame Damage
- High-strength steel and High-Strength Low-Alloy (HSLA) materials
These newer grades of steel have more stringent requirements for welding and heat treatment than older mild-steel frames. - Factory spot welds vs. repair shop MIG welds
- Hydro-formed components
- Composite materials
Foam filled sections or aluminum composite construction - Corrosion Protection
- Manufacturer’s repair requirements
Crush-zone integrity and proper air-bag timing may require sectioning and replacement of frame components, heat-straightening restrictions.
An Autoloss appraisal estimates how much market value the vehicle lost after the repair. Our appraisals consider the repair records you provide, including any frame or structural repair. Send us the repair estimate, final invoice, and photos, and we will consider any frame or structural repair they document when estimating the loss in value.
Things to ask your repair shop to document or photograph:
- Clamp marks from frame straightening
- Factory spot-welds replaced by plug welds
- Welds from sectioning and component replacement
Independent appraisals
Want a number you can defend?
An Autoloss appraisal documents your vehicle’s value with comparable vehicles, prepared from your repair order, photos and records and reviewed by Monica Fisher.
The claim review is free: we look at your situation and tell you whether an appraisal is likely to help. The appraisal itself is a paid report.
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Not sure whether an appraisal will help?
The claim review is free: we look at your situation and tell you whether an appraisal is likely to help. The appraisal itself is a paid report. We help from start to finish, including a custom demand letter, and our support staff is a phone call away throughout the process.