Repair-to-Value Calculator
Work backward from what the car will sell for. The answer is the most you can spend on repairs and still make your target profit.
Updated October 2026. Runs in your browser; nothing you type is sent anywhere.
- Max repair budget
- $2,701
- As % of resale
- 22.5%
The formula
- Net after selling = expected resale x (1 - selling cost %)
- Max repair budget = net after selling - purchase and fees - transport - title and tax - holding - target profit
- Repair % of resale = max repair budget / expected resale
Worked example
- Expected resale $12,000, purchase plus fees $6,059, transport $400, title and tax $300, holding $300, selling costs 2%, target profit $2,000.
- Net after selling: $11,760. Max repair budget: $2,701 (22.5% of resale).
- Raise the target profit to $3,500 and the budget drops to $1,201.
FAQ
How much should I spend on repairs when flipping a car?
No more than the repair budget this calculator returns for your target profit. It is the expected resale, net of selling costs, minus purchase, fees, transport, title, holding and profit. Spend past it and the deal no longer pays what you wanted.
What does a negative budget mean?
The calculator floors the budget at zero. Zero means the car cannot hit your target profit even with no repairs. Lower the target profit, find a cheaper car, or pass.
Where does the resale number come from?
Use comparable sales for the same year, trim and mileage in your market, not asking prices from one listing. The budget is only as good as that number.
Does this include the repair cost to fix everything?
No. It tells you the ceiling. Get a repair quote and compare it to the ceiling. If the quote is higher, the bid was too high.