Buying a used car, instead of a brand new one can help save thousands of dollars. However, with opportunities comes challenges. You must never forget that you do not know anything about the car’s past. Running a car VIN check can help allay your concerns. A comprehensive vehicle history report can help learn about the ownership history, title history, and whether the car has been in accidents. That said, many vehicle history reports may not include info about all accidents, which is why you also have to conduct a due diligence. To help, in this post, we take a look at some telltale signs that a used car was involved in an undisclosed accident.
1. Fresh Paint job
Many car buyers believe sellers paint a used car to spruce up its value. While there’s nothing wrong in painting an old car, there are some signs you must watch out for, as the paint job may have been used as a cover up to hide body damage. Be wary of cars that have paint on the trim and wirings, as in many cases, these parts are not painted when the car is manufactured in a factory. Make sure the colors, sheen, and finishes match. Take a look at the reflections in the bodywork and consider signs such as changes in waves or lustre as red flags.
2. Non Matching Body panels
Inspect the car from different angles and walk away if the gap between different panels on opposite sides seems inconsistent. Also look for signs such as widening gaps along the body’s length. Avoid cars whose pillars have creases on one side, as there is a good chance that the vehicle was damaged in a collision.
3. Tampered Hood bolts
When a car is manufactured in a factory, the bolts are painted after the hood is attached. There are rare situations when an owner would have to tamper the bolts. If you find the paint on the screws was scratched or they seem to be misplaced, there are good chances the car’s body had been worked on. Be very careful when checking the bolts, and ask questions even if it is misplaced by a millimeter.
4. New Dash and Airbag Seams
When checking the interiors of a used car, make sure the dashboard matches the rest of the trim. Look for signs of a recent paint job, that may indicate dashboard replacement, possibly due to a collision. Be wary of cars whose airbags have seams, as this may indicate the airbag has already been deployed, replaced, and repaired.
Wrap up
When buying a used car, do not take everything the seller says on face value. To get your money’s worth and avoid cars with a dubious past, follow these steps and run a car VIN check. Some other signs that a car was involved in a collision are: rubberized undercoat covering the vehicle’s belly, rusted fasteners and bolts, and missing screws.
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