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By Corey Little

By Heather Listhartke

Have you ever seen the TV show “Supernatural?” One of the recurring things that happens in this show is one of the main characters continues to wreck is Impala beyond all recognition. However, be it his apparent stubbornness or his unwillingness to lose one more thing in his life, he fixes it every single time. His love for the car and his knowledge about how to fix it makes the work and money worth it for him.

Unfortunately, real life is quite different than a television show and when you’re in a wreck that causes damage to your car, sometimes you have to consider whether fixing it or junking it is better. Sometimes the decision to fix your car is a really easy one. Other times it requires more careful consideration.

Here are a list of steps to take to determine whether to fix your car or find a new one:

1.Determine if the repair is minor or major?

It’s important to remember that what may seem like a major repair to you may be minor to a professional. On the other hand, sometimes damage seems minor, but an expert can let you know if there is major internal damage to your car that you can’t see.

If it’s a minor problem, fixing your car may be an easy decision to make. However, if it’s major, you’ll probably want to consider these next steps.

2. Get a second opinion

Don’t rely on your insurance agent or even just one mechanic, especially if you don’t know that mechanic personally. Get a second opinion on the damage and make sure you feel like you have received an honest, full assessment on what all needs to be fixed, the parts required to fix it, and how much they might charge for labor. Take the number and save it in your mind.

3. Evaluate your car’s worth

Use a trustworthy car evaluator to decide how much your car is worth. Kelley Blue Book is the common evaluator, but there are many others out there that are used as well. All of them are roughly similar in their estimate, but the difference between them can be hundreds of dollars sometimes. Take this number and subtract the repair cost. Is it a number that you’re happy with? If the cost to repair is more than the car is worth, many insurance will deem your car “totaled.” If the cost is less but a significant portion, often times they leave it up to you to decide whether it is worth it.

The numerical difference isn’t the only thing that’s important in figuring out worth. There are many other important questions to ask yourself, such as how long will the repair extend the life of your vehicle, is there other repairs you already needed to make or will be making in the near future, how much is the cost of getting a new car versus repairing the current one, has the safety of the car been compromised beyond what you’re comfortable with, and finally, were you already frustrated and tired of the car and anticipating a new one. Your answer to all of these questions affect how much the car is worth for you and could mean the difference in deciding on whether to fix it or not.

If you don’t have a trustworthy auto body repair person and want more information or help making the decision, visit or call David Smith Paint and Body. Like them on Facebook, call them at (615) 238-4583 or visit them at 6228 Nolensville Rd in Nashville.