Some unscrupulous dealers sell poorly rebuilt salvaged cars, which are dangerously unsafe and overpriced. Typically, these cars are involved in major accidents or floods. They look fine because of cosmetic repairs; however, they may have defective brakes, steering problems, faulty and inadequate welds, and poorly aligned structures. Make the following inspections to see if a vehicle has been wrecked:
- Check to see that the paint on the outside of the door matches the paint inside the doorframe.
Respraying a vehicle is just one method of camouflaging body damages because the vehicle will appear brand new or in a good condition. Usually, only the outside of the car will be sprayed so it will be easy to tell the color differences.
- Make sure that the parts of the car line up with each other.
Not all mechanics are neat workers and sometimes even the best mechanics fail to put the body parts of a badly damaged vehicle back in line.
- Ensure that the gaps between the doors and around the hood and trunk are straight and even.
This is important, as if these parts are not straight or if they are uneven the car may leak in water when it rains.
- Have a mechanic check underneath for any evidence of welding of the frame or underbody.
Maybe you won’t know what to look for, but if you take a reputable mechanic who has years of experience in his field, he’ll be able to point out shabby workmanship.
- Check the title to see where the car was registered.
Severely damaged cars often move from one parish to another. Persons with damaged cars feel more secure to sell their vehicle in a parish where no one knows neither them nor the vehicle.
- Look for evidence of flood damage.
Check the mat under the trunk for mud or dirt. Look for watermarks on the inside of the vehicle’s doors and for moisture inside the trunk and under the seats.
- Check the validity of the year of the vehicle quoted by the dealer or seller.
Some sellers will misrepresent the year the car was made in order to get a higher price.
Follow these tips to be protected from various car dealer scams and particularly to avoid becoming an owner of a salvaged vehicle.
I got a car from a used car dealer and signed that i would let them try to fix it first and dont belive after having conversations with there mech that he is even certified can I demand that I see his certifications and demand that a certified mech fix it
Thank you for the comment. It appears that you made a deal to have him fix it. Your deal was not to have a certified mechanic fix it. However in certain cases if you sign the purchase documents but have not taken possession of the vehicle then you can refuse to take possession and rescind the agreement. But you do run the risk of the dealership ignoring the laws and ruining your credit if you refuse to take possession and make payments. From another perspective maybe you can just make sure he does a good job. If he does not then refuse to take the vehicle. This is not a clear cut case so I do not have a definitive answer for you. If you want specifics call my office at 818.990.0418.