Does This Used Car Have Frame Damage?

By: Warrenscott
The used auto market can be a very tricky market to maneuver through. Whether you are buying or selling there are challenges to both sides. I think that the more difficult side is obviously the buying side. You don't know the history of the car and this can make buying a used car quite a guessing game! Keep reading to learn how you can avoid buying a lemon!

We have all seen the used car ads in the paper for a car that is really cheap. We call the seller to find out that the car has been totaled and has some major problems. Thus the cheap price!

Unfortunately the seller is not always honest about the history of the car. How can we tell if the car has been totaled in the past? How can we be sure that the seller is telling the truth? This can be a little tricky! But it is not impossible to outsmart the seller and get a good deal in the process.

If you suspect that the car you want to buy has been in an accident or has been totaled check the title. It is law in most states for body shops and insurance companies to report it if a car has experienced so much damage that it is totaled or salvaged. If the title is clean and you are still not convinced then keep reading to find out how you can tell if the car is a solid car to buy or not.

The one thing that I see all of the time is over spray on the taillights. This is a sure sign that the car has been repaired and repainted. I don't know why the seller doesn't scrape it off, or buy a new one. I have looked at several cars that the seller swears has never had any damage done to them, yet there is paint on the taillight cover. Do you think that it came out of the factory like that? No way! If the buyer isn't open about a small fender bender to explain the paint then they are hiding a much more serious problem and I wouldn't buy that car.

Another place to look is the lines where two parts of the car come together. For example, you would want to check the crack between the front fender and the hood. If one end of that line is close together and the other end is far apart then you know something is not lining up right. Something has probably been changed and isn't fitting like the original.

Of course we don't want to overlook the obvious, ask the owner! Many times people are honest people trying to sell their car and will be completely honest about the cars history. Remember that not everybody out there is trying to steal and cheat you. In fact a minor fender bender is quite common and if the owner tells me this straight away I trust them and would probably proceed further to consider buying the car. If they aren't straight forward and their answers are questionable I would maybe keep looking!

Just a few months ago I was looking at a used car. Yep, our family is expanding and we needed an SUV. As I looked over the car I noticed that it hadn't been take care of very well. Then I spotted the paint on the taillight. I causally asked the seller if the car had been in any kind of accident and he stated, "oh sure, just the normal fender bender a couple of times". I almost walked away right then! Why didn't he walk me over to that fender and say, "A few months ago we got hit here in a parking lot, and had to have this fender replaced"? Because he didn't want to tell me what really happened. Needless to say, I walked away and didn't buy that car.

Don't be afraid while you are looking at a used car. Stay in control and ask the questions that you want to ask. If the seller gets upset because you are asking several questions then he is more then likely hiding something so beware! Happy car shopping!
Used Cars
 • 
 • 
 • 
 • 
 • 
 • 
 • 
 • 
 • 
 • 
 • 
 • 
 • 
 • 
 • 
 • 
 • 
 • 
 • 
 • 

» More on Used Cars