If selling a car do you make more money paying for a repair or selling with a fault?

When selling a car do you make more money paying for a repair or selling with a fault? We have a Mazda MX-5 60 plate with a £300 seal problem that lights a dashboard warning light.

Asked on 11 December 2025 by John Beattie

Answered by Craig Cheetham
To answer your question in general terms, it depends on the expense involved in rectifying the fault and the value of the car. In this instance, the car will be much easier to sell if repaired, and for the sake of £300 we'd get the work done, as it will sell far more easily without a warning on the dash and you'd probably take a hit of more than £300 in lost value selling it with the fault.
Tags: selling
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