Should I get body work before appraisal?

Do not get the body work before the appraisal. The dealers have far more resources than an individual and cosmetic stuff is a snap for them. They will want to know how it drives and how it feels. My ugly dinged 1999 Honda Civic brought top trade in and they are going to sell it for over twice what I traded it in for. Do your research on line (start with Kelley Blue Book?) and get an firm idea of what it is worth.

I am dealer, and we do have resources , if not to bad, then we could just airbrush,.. Try to avoid having it painted and do not turn into insurance if that is avoidable for carfax reasons. if they pay claim or if reported to local authorities, carfax will likely pick up, that may change your appraisal more then the damage. Good Concert?

Oh, as well know that body shops, even our own, charge me like you, then we are often last on the list, so body work, changes things. but books dont buy cars. I have purchased 10,000 plus in my 40 yrs and if it is ,sellable dealers are very aggresive. There is only one way to know what your car is worth, simply look at the surrounding market, retail market, see what is out there and and how it compares to yours, back off the damage(which is likely less then half of the estimate assuming no body damage, back up another 10%, and ask for that. The check you get is what its worth. Market conditions reflect price. NOT BOOKS. books are a guide, but they dont tell all, you know what you have, maximize your trade opportunity by knowing the market.