How to find out if a Vehicle has been wrecked
Buying a used car can be a scary proposition. Year after year people unknowingly purchase cars that have been involved in major collisions. It's all too easy for underhanded auto rebuilders to quickly fix up these vehicles and resell them, all too often glossing over important maintenance and safety issues.
In many cases, when a vehicle has been totaled so that the cost to fix it is greater than its value, an insurance company will declare the vehicle a total loss. The owner is typically paid a sum equal to the pre-collision value of the car, and the car may be sold at a salvage auction. In other cases, the owner may be able to keep the totaled vehicle. In either case, there are unscrupulous car owners (whether they purchased the vehicle at auction or are the original owner) who quickly patch up these vehicles and try to turn a profit on them by selling them at full price.
It happens all the time, which is why you need to take the proper precautions when purchasing a vehicle. While we could go over several different scenarios, just take a look at a few examples below.
Check the Title- Since not every salvage vehicle has a notation on the title, you have to look at the wording. If you see things like "scrap," "parts only," "unsalvageable," or "un-rebuildable," then you have a vehicle that's been in an accident right in front of you.
You can check the vehicle's title by utilizing the National Motor Vehicle Title Information System (NMVTIS). This database lets you enter a VIN number to instantaneously check the title and odometer reading of an automobile and find out whether it was ever declared a total loss or reported stolen. This government service is available in most states, and more states are continually adding this service. You can visit the NMVTIS website at nmvtis.gov.
Inspect the Vehicle- This is extremely important, and it shouldn't be someone you know. Have a person that is certified in collision repair take on this task for you. They'll be able to give you the telltale signs that could involve a faulty vehicle.
3. Ask the seller outright whether the vehicle has ever been in an accident. There are no guarantees that the seller will be truthful, but this way you can avoid a lie by omission. Some people won't offer the information, but will be truthful if you ask.
4. Get a vehicle history report. Two of the most popular services for this purpose are Carfax and AutoCheck. These types of reports can clue you in to important red flags about a vehicle's past. You should, however, be aware that a clean report is no guarantee that a vehicle has never been wrecked. Still, this provides another important piece of information, since there are many problems that are never reported to state licensing agencies.
When it comes to checking out a used car's past, be thorough in researching the vehicle's history before you make a purchase. Document your research and keep a record of your conversations with the prior owner to protect yourself in case you find out later that you've been sold a previously wrecked vehicle. - 2368
In many cases, when a vehicle has been totaled so that the cost to fix it is greater than its value, an insurance company will declare the vehicle a total loss. The owner is typically paid a sum equal to the pre-collision value of the car, and the car may be sold at a salvage auction. In other cases, the owner may be able to keep the totaled vehicle. In either case, there are unscrupulous car owners (whether they purchased the vehicle at auction or are the original owner) who quickly patch up these vehicles and try to turn a profit on them by selling them at full price.
It happens all the time, which is why you need to take the proper precautions when purchasing a vehicle. While we could go over several different scenarios, just take a look at a few examples below.
Check the Title- Since not every salvage vehicle has a notation on the title, you have to look at the wording. If you see things like "scrap," "parts only," "unsalvageable," or "un-rebuildable," then you have a vehicle that's been in an accident right in front of you.
You can check the vehicle's title by utilizing the National Motor Vehicle Title Information System (NMVTIS). This database lets you enter a VIN number to instantaneously check the title and odometer reading of an automobile and find out whether it was ever declared a total loss or reported stolen. This government service is available in most states, and more states are continually adding this service. You can visit the NMVTIS website at nmvtis.gov.
Inspect the Vehicle- This is extremely important, and it shouldn't be someone you know. Have a person that is certified in collision repair take on this task for you. They'll be able to give you the telltale signs that could involve a faulty vehicle.
3. Ask the seller outright whether the vehicle has ever been in an accident. There are no guarantees that the seller will be truthful, but this way you can avoid a lie by omission. Some people won't offer the information, but will be truthful if you ask.
4. Get a vehicle history report. Two of the most popular services for this purpose are Carfax and AutoCheck. These types of reports can clue you in to important red flags about a vehicle's past. You should, however, be aware that a clean report is no guarantee that a vehicle has never been wrecked. Still, this provides another important piece of information, since there are many problems that are never reported to state licensing agencies.
When it comes to checking out a used car's past, be thorough in researching the vehicle's history before you make a purchase. Document your research and keep a record of your conversations with the prior owner to protect yourself in case you find out later that you've been sold a previously wrecked vehicle. - 2368
About the Author:
In 25 years as a Utah personal injury attorney Rex Bush has successfully handled over one thousand cases, his largest settlement to date is 3.25 million dollars. Visit his Utah Personal Injury Lawyers website.
posted by Frank Potter at 1:20 AM
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