How to Check if a Car Has Been in an Accident
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To determine whether a car has been in an accident, you can start by observing whether the gaps between the body panels are uniform and consistent, and whether the side body lines are smooth. If you notice that the waistline is noticeably uneven, you can conclude that the car has been involved in a collision, and a relatively severe one at that. Here are specific steps to check if a car has been in an accident: 1. Inspect the A, B, and C pillars and seals: Open the car door and pull down the original factory door seal. The door frame and pillars should be straight. Pay special attention to the original factory weld points where the A, B, and C pillars meet the car body—they should be slightly rounded and slightly recessed. The lines extending from the roof to the sill should be straight and naturally curved. If you find it difficult to close the door or notice gaps when opening it, this indicates that the door has been removed before, and the car is definitely an accident vehicle. Such a car should not be purchased. 2. Check the side fenders: When inspecting the engine, it’s not enough to just see if the layout is neat. Focus on whether the screws on both side fenders have been replaced, whether the original weld points are intact, and whether the surface of the anti-collision beam is smooth. If the anti-collision beam is deformed or the surface is uneven, the car is likely a rear-end collision vehicle. 3. Examine the glass: The front and rear windshields and the four door glasses should normally be consistent. If the dates on them don’t match, the car may have had its glass replaced due to a major accident. 4. Look at the bumper: Areas like the bumper, which are prone to scratches, are most likely to have been repainted. However, because this part has a relatively large recoverable deformation, minor scratches may not show wrinkles after repair. Moreover, if the scratches are shallow and don’t expose the primer, polishing can restore them to their original condition.