How to Sell a Damaged Roof Box

A damaged roof box is still worth selling — typically £12 to £62 at For Parts, against £50 to £250 undamaged.

Can you sell a roof box that is damaged?

Yes. Damaged stock has its own buyers: people who repair and restore, people who want the material rather than the object, and people who want a cheaper one and do not mind a flaw. Nobody should be surprised when it arrives.

The damage buyers look for on roof boxes

These are the flaws that move a roof box down the grades, and the ones a buyer will check first:

Cracked shells, which cannot be reliably repaired
Missing keys, which lock the box shut
Missing or incomplete fitting kits
Faded and brittle plastic from sun exposure

Grading it honestly

Fair covers something heavily used, or with a described fault or missing part: around £22 to £112. For Parts covers something not working or incomplete, sold as seen: roughly £12 to £62. Grades are seller-declared and nobody inspects them for you, so grading up does not raise what you get — it produces a buyer who arrives expecting something else. All five grades explained.

Working out what you actually have

Establish the flaw properly rather than guessing at it:

State the external dimensions and capacity in litres
Confirm both keys are present and the lock works
Check the shell for stress cracks around the mounts

Photographing the flaw

Photograph the damage directly and in focus — it is the evidence that the rest of the description is honest:

The box closed, from the side, whole
The box open, showing the interior and seal
The mounting clamps underneath
Both keys and the model marking, plus any crack, scuff or worn seal

What to state in the listing

Alongside the flaw itself, buyers of damaged roof boxes want these confirmed:

Capacity in litres and external dimensions
Maximum load, and whether it opens from one or both sides
Which roof bar types the mounting fits
Whether both keys are included, and shell, seal and lock condition

Capacity, dimensions and fitting: “Thule Roof Box, 420L, Dual Side Opening, with Keys”. Capacity in litres is the search. Say which bar types the clamps fit and whether it opens from one or both sides, which matters for access.

What buyers will ask

Answer these in the listing rather than waiting to be asked:

“Are both keys included?”

Confirm. Replacement keys are model specific and can be slow and expensive to obtain, and a locked box without keys is a serious problem.

“Will it fit my roof bars?”

Describe the clamp type and the bar widths it accommodates. Most fit standard bars but the range varies and buyers need to check.

“Is the shell cracked?”

Check the corners and mounting points, which is where stress cracks appear. Photograph anything you find.

Is it worth repairing first?

Only where it is cheap and visibly well done — a clumsy repair costs more than the flaw it hides. What lifts the price:

Recognised brands with fitting kits included
Working locks with both keys
Undamaged shells with no cracks
Larger capacities in litres

If the work would cost more than the gap between £62 and what a sound one fetches, sell it as is damaged and let the buyer decide.

When to list it

Lifts from April to August and before winter sports season. Larger capacity boxes from known brands sell within a fortnight in season.

Getting it to the buyer

Very bulky — too large to post economically, so collection only in practice. Give the external dimensions so the buyer arrives with a vehicle that can carry it.

WishThrift does not process payments, arrange delivery or hold funds. Confirm the money has cleared before the item leaves your hands, and keep the conversation on the site so there is a record of what was agreed.

Ready to list it? Free to list, no commission, and neither side pays a buyer-protection fee — create a free account, or read the full roof box selling guide if yours turns out to be sound.

Frequently asked questions

Can you sell a damaged roof box?

Yes. A damaged roof box typically is worth £12 to £62 against £50 to £250 undamaged, and there is a real market in repair, restoration and craft stock. Cracked shells, which cannot be reliably repaired

Is it worth repairing first?

Only where the repair is cheap and visibly done well. What buyers pay for is recognised brands with fitting kits included — a repair that draws attention to the flaw can leave you worse off.

How should I describe the damage?

Precisely, with a photograph of the flaw itself. Confirm. Replacement keys are model specific and can be slow and expensive to obtain, and a locked box without keys is a serious problem. Vague wording is what produces the message asking for a refund.