Is it worth buying a car after an accident?
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It is very difficult to find a car on the secondary market that has not received external damage. Even if the car was not involved in an accident, chips, scratches and abrasions are inevitable during operation. When choosing a used car, buyers often do not even consider cars that have received more or less serious damage. After all, it is much better to buy a car that has never been in an accident. Weren’t you there? After all, according to statistics, seven out of ten cars offered for sale were involved in an accident.
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Broken or refurbished
These are not the cars that have broken down on the market. Most of them suffered long-term damage and underwent body repairs. They can be considered restored. Some owners sell their cars damaged rather than repaired. And such proposals are worth considering. If the car has already been restored, then it is more difficult to determine the extent of previous damage. Especially if the repair is done efficiently. And not all sellers are honest and truthful about the history of their car. With a damaged car, the consequences of an accident become visible to the naked eye, and a more or less competent expert can quickly determine the scale of the disaster, the approximate cost of repairs and the feasibility of purchasing such a car. Yes, you can buy a used car! The question is the severity of the damage and the accuracy of the seller.
Types of damage by severity
- Lightweight – only the hinge parts of the wings, doors, bumpers and lighting systems are affected. The body frame is not damaged. In most cases, the machine can be restored without loss of performance;
- Medium – In addition to the hinge parts, some power elements of the body are slightly damaged. The possibility of repair must be assessed on a case-by-case basis;
- Heavy – serious damage to power elements, violation of body geometry. High quality – restoring a car is very difficult or impossible.
When can you buy a used car?
You can buy a lightly damaged car, or in some cases a moderately damaged one, as long as it is ready for repair. Of course, you must insist on a corresponding reduction in price. In negotiations, the seller guarantees that his friend Uncle Vasya will fix everything “for three rubles” when buying a repaired car, and will not have to act at the rate of a serious body service. Owners, especially resellers, can tell tales of damaged wings. Therefore, used cars are like damaged cars in Yekaterinburg , you should look for traces of body repairs and consider them to assess the severity of the consequences of previous accidents. If only external hinged parts were repaired or changed and the work was carried out efficiently, further negotiations can be held.
Which purchase is better to avoid?
In any case, you should not consider buying a car with serious damage to the power elements of the body. Traces of repairs to the sills, pillars, underbody, engine panels and roof will most likely hide the consequences of a serious accident. The same principles can be applied to cars that are broken but not repaired. Repairs are very difficult and expensive, and the results are unpredictable. Pay attention to the quality of restoration of external parts. If the fenders, doors or bumpers are covered with a thick layer of putty and are “lapped”, consider that the work needs to be redone and reduce the cost. Alternatively, refuse to purchase such copies.
Possible problems of restored machines
What are the risks of buying a heavily damaged or unrestored car? Poor quality of repairs and painting of external body elements spoils the appearance of the car. Parts quickly “bloom” and become covered with rust spots. Repairing power elements reduces their strength. In the event of subsequent accidents, the car may literally collapse. If the geometry of the body is violated, the car moves to the side, and tire wear increases. Windows and doorways may develop, and drafts may circulate throughout the car. Often, when repairing emergency vehicles, passive safety equipment – airbags and belts – are not restored. The control lights do not burn out, the panels are extended as far as possible, and there are no pillows under them. There is no need to talk about the safety of these acquisitions. During operation, squeaks and rattles will appear in the interior, and possibly rust spots on the body. Can you sell such a wreck for a reasonable price? So think about whether it is worth restoring your car after a serious accident.
We check the car for participation in an accident
It would not be superfluous to check the participation of the vehicle in the accident that was provoked. This can be done for free on the traffic police website. For money, you can call your car through an online car inspection service. The price is small, but you get information about the accident plus much more that will help you get information. You only need to keep in mind the information about the accident that was properly recorded. Therefore, checking via the Internet does not replace the inspection and diagnosis of the vehicle’s condition.
How to protect yourself from deception
Assessing the physical condition of a car requires certain knowledge, skills and solid experience. If you don’t know what you’re capable of yourself, hire a specialist. If the car was hastily repaired, then finding traces of repairs will not be difficult. However, when a salvage professional recalls a car, an equally professional appearance is required to evaluate his work. An experienced specialist will look at the traces of repairs, assess their quality, the severity of the damage that you had to repair, and help you make the right decision. During an external inspection, a damaged car can be revealed by uneven gaps in parts, differences in the tone or texture of the paint, welding points in replaced parts, different headlights or lanterns, or glass that is not original. Be sure to look under the hood to check the condition of the space, engine shield and suspension strut cups. Lift up the interior fittings of the cabin and trunk. Look for draw marks and welding marks on the rear side members, rocker panels and floor. You should also pay attention to signs of repair to the body rack and roof rack. However, the most reliable way to check a car is to contact specialists – bodybuilders at Faveit Motors diagnose the car body, create a cost estimate for repairs, comply with all technical requirements and perform work using the latest equipment. And you won’t have to distinguish the car from a new one.
