Experience in detecting cars "repaired" after accidents

Check the front and rear of your car for cracks or patches. Bumpers and fenders are the most likely to break in a collision because they are often made of lightweight materials or plastics. Cracks or repairs to bumpers and fenders will give away the car's history of being repaired after an accident.

Sit down next to the front or rear of the car so that your eyes are level with the bodywork. Look closely at the main bodywork running down the side of the car. The bodywork should be straight and even, and the paint should be completely normal. If the bodywork is uneven or distorted, the bodywork may have been replaced or refinished.

The clamp marks around the frame indicate an accident history. This suggests that the car has been repaired with a tractor and had its frame adjusted. If so, the car must have been pretty badly damaged in the accident.

Look closely at the door jambs on the car. If the car has never been in an accident, the jambs should be straight and even from top to bottom. Meanwhile, the jambs on cars that have been in an accident will be uneven because they have been moved or because the panels and doors have been replaced.

Look at the entire windshield from front to back to check for any collisions. This will tell you the “real” condition of the vehicle in terms of collisions and repairs.

Look closely at the door moldings and body panels for nicks, scratches, or uneven paint. If you see a different color underneath, you can assume the car has been repainted. It’s also possible that the doors and body panels were replaced and then repainted to “match” the rest of the car.