3 Ways To Determine If A Car Has Had Significant Body Damage Before You Buy It
by Phillip Herrera
In most cases, buying a used vehicle that has been involved in a crash is not that big of a deal as long as the necessary work to restore the vehicle to an operable and safe condition has been done. However, even if a car is restored, knowing it has been involved in a crash is something you should know as a buyer. Plus, it is not uncommon for vehicle owners to take shortcuts where repairs are concerned to try and save money. Unfortunately, not every seller will be forthcoming with information if a used vehicle has been in a crash simply because they feel it will deter buyers. There are a few things you can do as an educated buyer before you make an offer on a used vehicle to determine if it has had extensive body work done.
Check to ensure all body parts match up and function properly.
A good body shop technician will go to great lengths to ensure the end result after repairs is as close to the original structure of the car as possible. However, aftermarket parts are commonly used and some aftermarket vehicle parts don't line up in the exact fashion they should. Look for things like:
- larger than usual gaps where fenders, bumpers, and panels meet the main body of the vehicle
- hood, trunk, or doors that do not line up perfectly when closed
- slight discrepancies in trim on side panels
Look for signs of overspray around the vehicle.
When replacement parts are installed by someone who is not trained or professional, the parts often get painted after they are put on the vehicle, which is not how it should be done. When this happens, overspray can sometimes be tracked down on the adjacent parts. This paint overspray is usually fairly easy to track down if you look with a discerning eye.
Be alert to slight variations in paint color.
Great lengths will be taken to ensure the paint matches perfectly when you have body work done on a vehicle by a professional. However, due to the fact that the existing paint is aged and weathered and mixing consistencies can be different in the shop than they were during the original painting process, there is always a chance that there will be variations in paint color. Step back away from the vehicle several feet and take a look at it from different angles in good lighting to determine if certain parts of the car's body have a different color.
For more information or assistance, contact companies like Lakeside Collision Kirkland.
Share
About Me
When I decided to restore my old car, one of the things that I was excited about was repainting the car. I spent a lot of time researching how to do the paint job properly because I wanted to be sure that it looked professional. I learned a lot about tips and tricks to create a quality finish, and when the car was done, I knew I had to teach others what I learned. This blog is my chance to share my tips and help others to feel better prepared to paint their own restoration projects. I hope the information here helps you to do just that.