Buying a used car is not only a responsible matter, but also a very risky one. Absolutely no buyer is immune from the possibility of buying a “pig in a poke”. You need to pay maximum attention to the nuances and, “pushing” emotions into the background, be sure to take into account that the seller will praise his car and try to present it from the best sides.
Experts recommend not to listen to all the seller’s arguments and to inspect the vehicle yourself, since this is not only your money, but also your safety. The body will tell the most about the condition of the vehicle, and you need to devote maximum attention to inspecting it. Any changes and elements should be alarming, which we will try to understand below.
How to find out if a car has had body repairs
1. Smooth inspection
The body inspection should be carried out slowly, from the front to the rear. It is better to write down all the nuances or mark them for yourself in some other way. Remember that any defect in the paintwork is a chance to reduce the cost of the vehicle.
2. Checking symmetry and geometry
Experts recommend moving a few meters away from the car and squatting down a little while inspecting the body. Any violations of symmetry must be justified by the seller. To identify uneven elements of the roof, you need to look at it so that the surface is at eye level. The inspection should be carried out from both sides.
3. Inspection of gaps
The gaps between the body panels of a new car will always be the same (or may be absent altogether). If gaps of different sizes are found during the inspection, you can safely make a claim to the seller – most likely the vehicle was in an accident, and the repairs were carried out by illiterate specialists. Eliminating such a problem will require significant investment and threaten a lot of associated troubles!
4. Assessing the body using a magnet
Many “experienced” motorists know about such a convenient method as checking the thickness of the body using a magnet. To do this, a small magnet is wrapped in a thin cloth or bandage and passed along suspicious areas of the body. If the magnet does not hold and falls, this means that the putty layer in this place is thick. This indicates that repairs have been carried out. It is better not to use a large magnet for this purpose, since it can hold even where a thick layer of putty is applied.
5. Thickness gauge
If you have the opportunity to take a thickness gauge with you for inspection, do so without fail! The device will accurately check the homogeneity of the paintwork layers. If the thickness gauge shows different data on different parts of the body, it is better to refuse to buy the car or try to knock down the price – after all, repairs were carried out!
6. Stickers, spoilers, overlays and moldings
If the car is decorated with various stickers, moldings, overlays and similar styling products, you need to pay special attention to these details. The fact is that all these elements are often used to mask defects. Be sure to use a thickness gauge or a magnet on stickers and overlays, and regarding the spoiler or moldings, many immediately bargain towards a lower price, since these elements are purely a matter of individual taste.
7. Seals and fasteners
Carefully inspect the seals of the vehicle. A loose fit or the presence of paint on these elements should alert you. Fasteners that may not fit very well after the intervention or be non-original may give away body repairs. Sometimes owners save money or simply cannot find suitable elements, and sometimes the fasteners may differ only slightly. Pay attention to this – all elements must be absolutely identical in color and type!
Do not rush to buy a vehicle. Carefully inspect the body, check the color inside and out – the shade should be the same. Try to open and close each door in turn, listening to the sounds in order to understand whether they are mounted evenly. Keep in mind that only the driver’s door can have minimal play due to frequent use. Do not forget that using a car is an inevitable risk of scratches, dents, chips and even accidents. If the body repair was carried out unprofessionally, and defects were found during the inspection, it is better to refuse to buy the car at all or at least radically reduce the price!
REMEMBER: You can always contact our car service, where your car will be gladly provided with professional diagnostics and technical assistance. You can also sign up for a scheduled technical inspection with us! Please familiarize yourself with our services for car repair and diagnostics.
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VEBER-AUTO car service
194044, St. Petersburg
Neyshlotskiy pereulok, house 5, building 3
District: Vyborgsky
Metro: Vyborgskaya – 800 m.
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Seven days a week, from 9:00 to 21:00.
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sto@veberauto.ru
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8 (812) 321-00-00
