How to Identify Whether a Used Car is an Accident Vehicle?
2 Answers
There are several methods to identify whether a used car is an accident vehicle: 1. Inspect the exterior: Check if the body panels have been refurbished, whether the waistline of the car appears natural, and if the production dates of the glass match the car's manufacturing date. 2. Open and close the doors: Doors that have been removed and reinstalled multiple times are often difficult to operate, and the sealing strips are likely damaged. In severe cases, the doors may not close properly without applying force. 3. Conduct a thorough inspection under the hood: Look for signs of tampering on the fender screws and check if the filler adhesive on the wheel arches is applied evenly and neatly.
Last week, I accompanied a friend to check out a used car and encountered this exact situation. The key is to inspect whether the vehicle's frame has been altered, especially critical support areas like the A, B, and C pillars. Use a flashlight to carefully examine the weld points—factory welds are neatly arranged like fish scales. If you spot rough or re-welded marks, be cautious. Lift the trunk mat and feel the inner side of the rear panel; the factory applies an even layer of rust-proof adhesive, while repaired areas feel lumpy like unevenly applied paste. Bring a magnet to test the car's waistline—normal steel panels will attract the magnet, but areas with excessive filler will show weaker magnetism. Don’t forget to crawl under the car to inspect the frame rails; wrinkles or hammer marks are strong indicators of prior collisions. These tricks aren’t obvious unless you’ve inspected dozens of cars.
