How Can You Tell If a Used Car Has Been in an Accident?

Choosing to buy a used car can be a wise financial move since it allows you to get a quality vehicle for a discounted price. However, you'll want to ensure the car you purchase is in good condition without any significant damage from collisions. Buying a VW-certified pre-owned vehicle from a Melbourne VW dealership allows you to take advantage of financial savings without compromising reliability. 

While a fender bender isn't necessarily a reason to walk away from a car you're considering, a major collision should be a deal breaker. Accidents can leave vehicles with hidden structural damage that compromises their safety. This structural damage can put you at risk in future collisions, as the car may not be strong enough to protect you. Collision damage can also make your car susceptible to rust and other issues.

Since not all sellers are upfront about a vehicle's collision history, you'll want to perform your due diligence when examining any car you're contemplating purchasing. Here are some warning signs that the used car you're looking at may have been damaged in an accident:

Misaligned Body Panels

When a vehicle suffers really severe body damage, so that body panels must be replaced, it's nearly impossible for the replacements to be perfectly aligned. Keep an eye out for inconsistent gaps between panels or panels that don't sit straight.

Vehicles with the original factory panels will sit straight, and any space between panels will be uniform and the same on both sides of the car. If a seller swears a vehicle is accident-free but the body panels are misaligned, keep moving because the seller isn't being truthful, and there may be other issues they're hiding.

A Reshaped Frame

The frame is an essential component of your vehicle, and when it's compromised, you and your passengers will be at risk. Sometimes unscrupulous auto workers will forgo making proper repairs, which can be costly, in favour of trying to re-bend the frame into its original shape. This reshaping leaves the frame susceptible to further damage and decreases its strength.

Look for areas of the frame that show signs of being bent back into shape. Pay special attention to the rails beneath the front and back of the vehicle and the framing near the wheel wells since these areas commonly absorb the brunt of the impact in a collision.

Different Coloured or New Paint

While it's normal for a used vehicle to have minor blemishes touched up with paint, beware of cars that have significant portions of them repainted. Choosing to repaint just a part of a car means something happened that needed repair. Ask the seller to explain the reason for the new paint, and be cautious about purchasing.

Shop VW-Certified Pre-Owned Used Cars

If you're worried about inadvertently purchasing a damaged vehicle, shopping for certified pre-owned cars may be your best option. Certified pre-owned cars have had extensive mechanical inspections to ensure they are in fantastic condition. They also had a thorough history check to ensure the car wasn't damaged in a collision. 

Head to a VW Dealership in Melbourne

Shop with confidence by exploring the certified pre-owned offerings at your local dealership. Not only will you know that the vehicle you purchase is in good condition, but you can also typically snag a warranty. You don't have to sacrifice reliability to get a great deal when you shop for certified pre-owned vehicles.