Does replacing a car door count as an accident vehicle?
2 Answers
Replacing a car door does not necessarily mean it is an accident vehicle; it could also be due to the replacement of some damaged components inside the door. The functions of a car door are: to provide access for the driver and passengers, to isolate external disturbances, and to some extent, to mitigate side impacts and protect the occupants. Car doors can be categorized by their opening methods into: 1. Forward-opening doors; 2. Rearward-opening doors; 3. Sliding doors; 4. Upward-swinging doors; 5. Folding doors; 6. Full-size doors; 7. Split doors. The design requirements for car doors include: 1. The maximum opening angle should be controlled between 65 to 70 degrees; 2. There should be no positional interference with other parts during the opening process.
I'm the type who often tinkers with my car myself, and in my eyes, replacing a door doesn't count as making it a salvage car. Last year, my car got a dent on the right rear door when a neighbor backed into it. I was too lazy to repair it, so I just replaced the whole door. During the repair, the mechanic specifically checked the surrounding frame—no deformation, no welding marks. The door opens and closes smoothly, and there's no change in wind noise. A salvage car usually refers to severe cases where the frame is bent or airbags deployed after a major collision. Minor repairs like this are just surface work. Daily driving isn't affected at all—fuel consumption and acceleration are normal. But if you're buying a used car and find a replaced door, it's advisable to check the repair records to see if it was installed with OEM parts and whether the door gaps align properly without signs of water leakage. In short, minor issues like this are acceptable—no need to worry about safety over them.
