Buying Used Cars: How To Check For Signs Of Accidents/Damages

Sales of pre-owned cars almost twice the number of new cars sold in India. With a mushrooming used car market, be it organised or unorganised used car market, there are lots of options available in a particular price band. But not all models in the pre-owned market have been maintained well. There will be models which have been in accidents, have had extensive modification or repairs. While it is always better to steer clear of such models, we tell you how to look out for signs of damage repair on a particular used car.
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With plenty of choices, you need to be careful and wise to select a good used car. Sometimes, even the seller may give out misleading information and you end up buying a damaged car, which was restored to look like new. Before you buy a used car, assess the car's whole body if there is any past damage; that will tell you the real value of the car. Make sure your choice not only depends on how the car is looking.

The biggest problem one could ever face while inspecting a car at the dealer's place. That time you need to be extra careful so that you cannot get duped with a faulty, damaged car. Here are the tips and tricks that will help you to inspect thoroughly before taking any decision.

Also Read: Which Is Better? Buying New Cars Or Used Cars

Checking the Exterior

Every person has a different perspective to inspect a car. Before you come to any conclusion, the first thing you should do is to go for the exterior part of a car. Touch your palm on the body of that particular car. If there is any dent, you will feel it immediately. Then go for the overall details like glancing at the front bumper, headlights, windscreen, indicators and the boot; if you spot something unusual or irregularity about the car, notify that to the owner or the salesmen. Tell them how or what part of the car is not making you comfortable enough to buy it.

Check for Modifications

Sometimes, to make the car more attractive looking, the sellers change the parts of the car with cheaper parts and sell them at a high price. They even modify it after handling them roughly. In either case, you should look for the parts like exhausts, air filters, bent pipes very carefully. If you ever cross paths with any heavily modified car, then you should know that car has gone through some rough patches. Stay away from those cars or crosscheck with the sellers about all your queries.

Examine The Sides Of The Car

During your thorough inspection, don't forget about the joints and panel gaps like the doors and the under-the-side black plastic cladding areas. If you remove that cladding, you will see some punching holes, which are generally made by the manufacturer's end. If you look carefully, you will see heavily modified cars either have welding joints or are completely smooth. This is how you will know if the car has been in an accident or not. Also, a good idea would be to check for original OEM badges.

Tyres

The five tyres of the cars should be of the same brand. So if the tyres are worn out, they should have been replaced at the same time. If you see the multiple tyre brands, crosscheck them and feel free to ask the seller about this.

Conclusion

If the used car passes all the tests or the inspection goes well congratulations! You have got the winner. However, feel free for a test drive before sealing the deal or getting confused between two cars. This is an important exercise before opting for a particular car, and it should be done properly. Once you are done with everything, choose the car that fits your need and more importantly, your budget.