Buying a Used Car: How to Tell if It's Been Wrecked

By Rex Curtis Bush, Attorney at Law, Doctor of Jurisprudence

While you can save tons of money purchasing a used car, it's still a scary proposition. Every year we hear stories about people purchasing used cars that have actually been in major collisions. To be honest, it's easy for auto rebuilders to fix these vehicles up and put them back into the circulation. Unfortunately, we're the ones that have to deal with the long term issues.

In many cases, when a vehicle has been totaled so that the cost to fix it is greater than its value, an insurance company will declare the vehicle a total loss. The owner is typically paid a sum equal to the pre-collision value of the car, and the car may be sold at a salvage auction. In other cases, the owner may be able to keep the totaled vehicle. In either case, there are unscrupulous car owners (whether they purchased the vehicle at auction or are the original owner) who quickly patch up these vehicles and try to turn a profit on them by selling them at full price.

Even if a car looks new and well kept, you might be surprised to learn that it may have sustained major damage. The title to a vehicle will not always reflect this fact. Here are some things that you can do to keep yourself from being taken for a ride when it comes to buying a used car:

1. Check the title of the vehicle. Not every salvaged vehicle will have a notation on the title; in some cases band-aid repairs are done on the sly without a report being issued. But the title is the first place to check. If you see phrases like "scrap," "parts only," "unsalvageable," or "un-rebuildable" then you are dealing with a vehicle that's been involved in a major accident.

You can get a glimpse of this ahead of time by doing a simple online check. You can do this at the National Motor Vehicle Title Information System site. All you have to do is enter a VIN number and the information will pop up for you. Keep in mind this is everything from odometer readings, if it's been lost or stolen, and if the vehicle was ever considered a complete loss. Just go to nmvtis.gov for more information.

Inspect the Vehicle- This is extremely important, and it shouldn't be someone you know. Have a person that is certified in collision repair take on this task for you. They'll be able to give you the telltale signs that could involve a faulty vehicle.

Just Ask- One of the best things you can do is ask the seller if it's been in an accident. Obviously the seller could lie to you, but their reactions will tell you everything. If by chance they are truthful and tell you upfront, then it's important to find out what kind of damage the vehicle has had when it was in an accident.

Get a History Report- Anytime anyone purchases a vehicle, they should get a Carfax or AutoCheck report. They will offer all the red flags that dig into a vehicle's past. However, just because a report is clean doesn't necessarily mean it hasn't been wrecked. In the end, not all problems are reported to the state licensing agencies.

Just make sure you're as thorough as possible when researching a vehicle. All the tips we've given you today should help you get an inside look at the history behind the car you're interested in buying. In order to keep yourself safe, document all your research and conversations you have along the way. If there are any issues you'll already be able to present a case if it goes to court. - 21392

About the Author:

In 25 years as a Utah personal injury attorney Rex Bush has successfully handled over one thousand cases, his largest settlement to date is 3.25 million dollars. Visit his Utah Personal Injury Lawyers website.