Scraped Alloys: Experts Reveal How Much Damaged Wheels Can Devalue Your Car
Alloy wheels are one of the first things buyers notice when checking out a used vehicle, and while a few scratches might not seem like a big deal to sellers, new research by car selling expert Auto Trader reveals that even minor alloy damage can significantly impact your car’s value.
Surveying over 1,000 UK motorists, Auto Trader found that 64% of car buyers would reconsider purchasing a car if the alloys were severely scraped, and over a third (34%) expect at least £250 to £500 off to compensate for the damage. But speaking to mechanics reveals that sellers may be losing far more in negotiations than the cost of a quick refurbishment.
Auto Trader spoke to automotive experts to get their insights into alloy wheel repairs, how much the damage costs to repair, and whether it’s worth fixing before selling.
How Much Can Scraped Alloys Devalue Your Car?
While buyers won’t necessarily walk away from a car with alloy damage, they will use it as a reason to negotiate. Only 2% of those surveyed said they didn’t expect a price difference between a car with visible alloy wheel damage compared to a similar car with perfect alloys. The vast majority sing a different tune, with two in three buyers (63%) expecting a price reduction of anywhere from £101 to £500, while 13.6% said they’d expect between £501 and £1,000 off. In fact, a small percentage (1.5%) went as far as to say they’d ask for over £1,500 off.
When asked if they would pay more for a car with perfect alloys, 17% of car buyers said they would definitely pay more. Breaking down the maths, this means trying to sell a car with damaged alloys could end up devaluing your car by hundreds of pounds, especially if you’re looking at more than one scraped wheel. But a simple fix could prevent this.
How Much Does It Cost to Fix Alloy Wheel Damage?
Mechanic experts have helped shed light on the issue, revealing how much it actually costs to repair alloy damage. Their estimates suggest refurbishing your alloys will make selling your car not just easier, but far more profitable. Louise Baker explains:
“A single alloy repair starts from £60 to £120 per wheel.” Even if all four wheels needed refurbishment, the total cost could range from £240 to £480, yet buyers attempt to negotiate an average of £375 off the sale price, even when only one alloy might be damaged.
And you might not even need a full refurbishment. Hannah Gordon, automotive expert, adds:
“For minor damage people can refurb their own wheels using wet and dry sanding paper to take the old paint off and also smooth the wheel, before using aerosol primer, wheel paint and lacquer. All these items can be bought from motoring shops or online.”
Safety is a priority though. Both experts agreed that if your wheels have deeper gouges, structural damage like severe bends or cracks, or you’re looking at diamond-cut alloys, which require a more complicated process, going to a professional is key. Louise Baker says:
“Bent or buckled alloys may need straightening or welding”, similarly, cracked alloys may also need welding, however, “structural integrity could be compromised, making replacement a safer option.”
Auto Trader spoke with photography expert Tom Fegredo on how to get the best pictures at sunrise and sunset. Tom advised travellers:
1. Plan ahead
Take your time to look online for inspiration from other photographers of the best locations and shot types. Arrive at your location with enough time to reach your desired spot before sunset. For picture-perfect conditions, check out the weather forecast ahead of your trip.
2. Use your grid feature
Use the rule of thirds to position your subject, such as a key focal point of the skyline. This ensures that it’s off-centre rather than in the middle of the frame, creating a more dynamic feel to your photography. You can turn on the grid setting on your smartphone camera for help. Use the grid to position your main focal point where two grid lines intersect. To focus on the sky, ensure it fills two-thirds of the photo.
3. HDR setting
High Dynamic Range (HDR), is great for shooting high-contrast scenes like landscapes. Enabling this feature on your smartphone allows you to capture more detail in both bright and dark areas of your photos.
4. Play around with the exposure
By pressing down your smartphone screen before taking a picture, you can test different brightness levels. Test different exposure levels for your sunrise and sunset shots to achieve the best picture.
5. Experiment with editing apps
Once you’ve taken your photos, have fun editing your image. Experiment with cropping the image or adjusting the contrast, saturation and white balance to your liking.
Sellers often underestimate how much minor damage can impact negotiations, and our study highlights how a low-cost repair like alloy wheel refurbishing can save hundreds, when selling a vehicle. For those looking to put their car on the market, assess your alloys before listing it, and if there’s visible damage, get a repair quote as this could result in getting the best price.
Methodology
Using market research agency Prolific, over 1,000 nationally representative participants were asked a series of questions regarding how alloy scrapes would impact their purchasing decisions and exact costs they'd be willing to negotiate.
All data correct as of February 2025
Media Contacts
auto-trader-pr@propellernet.co.uk
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