Repair 2010 (body work) or sell as is

how would you plan to sell it privately?

are they going to get a check for $4,600. if you don't fix it?

does the door work and no leaks?

 

I'd get an independent quote from a body shop.

Like bisco says, RU sure the insurance company is on board with cutting at $4,600 check? I recently did that when cosmetic repairs made no sense given the age of the car. The owner would have to sign releases for any "hidden" damage.

Since you are interested in "no hassle," it would be interesting to see what Carmax would offer as is. They make most of their money on re-sales to dealers at auction (not the public sales from their lots) and this car would be attractive in that market.

If the damage is all cosmetic (no leaks as Bisco asks) I think you open yourself to many additional buyers who don't care about how the car looks, and like the idea of getting a $7.4 car for less.

Personally, I think I'd price the car $4,400 firm. You'd get buyers who just want reliable transportation and appreciate the $3K discount yet the owner would clear $9,000 -- win win.

The car would be perfect for someone who only has $4.4K to spend. At that price point, the buyer is not trying to impress the neighbor, but just wants to get back/forth from work without ending up on the side of the road or in the shop for repairs. This car would be much more reliable than anything else at that price point.

 

Pocket the $4,600, and sell the car for $2,800.

 

If you're going to sell it in the $2,000 range, I'd be very tempted to fly up there myself and drive it back. 60k is low miles for a 2010. The local lots/Carmax probably won't give you much.

On the other hand, my wife is from Massachusetts, and I am 95% certain that someone in her family who still lives up that way would be thrilled to get a good bargain on a slightly beat-up car. It would only take a phone call.

Alternatively, you could be doing a very good thing for someone if you sold it locally in MA or NY on Craigslist. Cars for ~$2,000 are usually in much worse shape, and people who only have that much for a car are sometimes hurting pretty badly.

 

i like the idea of fishing for buyers while it's damaged to see if you can do better with the $4,600. than if you repair it.
if not, you can get it repaired and sell.

 

There are plenty of people that would buy it as it is probably for around $4000. Added to the insurance payment you'll get at least book value if not more. The low mileage is why people would buy it.
Let's say you find someone to repair it for $2000...or $2500. You could make a bit more maybe, but is it worth the trouble....and will it still have a clean title or will that go to a salvage/rebuilt title?

 

To be clear, a salvage title is only placed on a car when an insurance company has determined that it will pay the total market value of the car rather than pay for repair to the car. That doesn't seem to be what's going on with the OP.