If you have a second-hand car in mind, you naturally want to know whether it has ever been damaged. This is usually not immediately visible and not every seller is honest about it. Severe damage from the past can affect the reliability or even the safety of the car. With these tips you can avoid buying a pig in a poke.
A possible indication of whether a car has been damaged can be found in the registration number. This may include a so-called WOK status (Waiting for Inspection). This status is issued by the RDW, a damage expert or the police. It means that the car is not allowed on the road until a new inspection.
For example, you can use the AutoWeek license plate check easily see if a WOK status applies to the car you have in mind. Such a WOK status can therefore be the result of major damage, but that does not always have to be the case.
For example, it may also be that the car has been imported and must be inspected before it can be registered. In any case, such a WOK status requires a clear explanation from the seller. If you don’t trust his explanation, this is definitely a ‘red flag’ during your search for a used car.
Sometimes the traces of damage are easy to recognize
You can also check yourself with a sharp eye whether a car has had damage. Pay attention the exterior of your occasion for example on the following characteristics:
- (Slight) color differences between parts of the bodywork. For example, a difference between the door and fenders may indicate that a body part has been painted.
- Irregular seams between body parts. Normally you can expect the seams to be even. If there are differences or if parts are crooked, you must be alert to damage in the past.
- Different sounds when closing doors. Does opening and closing the left and right doors sound and feel the same?
- Look in the trunk, usually under the spare tire. Does it look ‘straight’? Do you see welds or color differences? They may indicate damage repair.
- Check the sills and sides of the doors. Are they the same color and do they look the same age as the rest of the bodywork? Do you see irregularities there? In the case of poor recovery, you often see that they are skipped or treated faster and a color difference arises.
Also be aware of any damage to the structure of the car
If a car has had damage in the past, this can even have consequences for safety. Minor parking damage is usually not much of a problem, but you should be wary of damage that affects the structure of the car.
Support beams, the safety cage and parts of the suspension have a major influence on the safety and handling of the car. The best way to find out is to take it for a test drive.
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