How to Check Car Accidents or Damage?

Traffic accidents are a very common occurrence on the roads. They can lead to major or minor vehicle damage. By purchasing such a vehicle, you may have serious safety issues and high repair and maintenance costs in the future.

The VinCheckExpert Report of used vehicle history allows you to find out whether the car has had accidents and damages, which parts of the car were damaged, the cost of repairs and the country of the accident.

Why is it dangerous to buy a damaged car?

Buying a reliable and good used vehicle is not easy. If you see an ad with a car "like new", perfectly preserved, low mileage, great price, the first thing you should ask yourself is "What's the catch"?

You can often see on an ad, a car that has a price lower than the market price and this will seem like the best deal for you. However, these vehicles usually had minor or major damage. Our reports show that every third car has a record of accidents or damage in its databases.

7 things that indicate an accident and car damage

Vehicle’s shell

In addition to the vehicle history report, you need to thoroughly check the car you intend to buy. First check the vehicle’s shell. Major damage to the vehicle's shell and poor repair can put your life at risk. Steel and aluminum lose strength after bending. That’s why bent frame parts should be replaced, not fixed.

Signs that the vehicle shell was damaged are traces of welding. Check for welding marks caused by an accident or damage to the vehicle.

Rust

The appearance of rust on the body can be a sign of previous damage to the vehicle. It is common in older vehicles, but the appearance of rust under the paint in newer vehicles is not a normal phenomenon.

Body panels

Check that the gaps between the body panels are even. If the gaps between the panels are large, it is a sure sign that there was damage and that the car was cheap repaired. Be sure to check the gaps between the bumper and body, headlights and bonnet, headlights and trunk, doors and body. Also, by moving your hands along the car, you can check for dents, cracks, and other damage.

Color

Look for differences in the color of the paint on different parts of the body. Check the paint on the wings, pillars, sills and doors. The reason for repainting can also be small damages and scratches. There are instruments with which you can measure the thickness of the paint.

If the original paint is on the vehicle, the thickness of the paint is between 80 and 120 microns. If the part is painted, the reading will show a thickness of 150 to 260 microns. If the paint layer is thicker than 300 microns, the painted parts had more serious damage.

Windows

The marks on the glasses show the mark of the car manufacturer and the glass manufacturer, such as Schott (Germany), Nippon (Japan), Xinyi Glass (China), Pilkington (UK), Saint Gobain (France).

Then the safety standard is entered: E-European, AS-American, CCC-Chinese, JIS-Japanese. The designation E and the number more closely determine the country. So E1 stands for German, E2 French, E3 Italian standard... The numbers on the right (43R-000499) are a continuation of the standard designation.

The type of glass is marked with "/" indicating reinforced windshield, then "//" reinforced multi-layer windshield, "///" multi-layer windshield with special treatment, "IV" plastic glass.

The indication of the month and year of production of the glass is indicated by dots and a number. There are different combinations. If the glass mark is ••••15, it means that the glass was manufactured in April 2015.

The serial numbers of all car windows must be the same. If they differ, it is a replacement due to some damage. Replacing the window does not necessarily mean that the car has had more damage. Most often, the windshield is replaced, which can often be damaged by stones from the road.

Tires

Be sure to check the wear of the tire on the inside and outside. Uneven tire wear indicates problems with the vehicle's undercarriage, which can be the cause of an accident and damage.

If one or both tires are worn on the side, they need to be replaced, which affects the purchase costs, but is also a clear signal that something is wrong.

Equipment

Original equipment and technical specs match the actual car. In the case of damaged cars, there is an inconsistency in these parts of the vehicle, which can be replaced or upgraded compared to the original model of the car.

What are the most common vehicle damages?

In addition to accidents, used cars can also have various damages. Most often, these are minor or major external and internal scratches. However, used vehicles can also have damage from flood, fire, hail, vandalism and other types of damage.

External scratches

Scratches on the car are very common. There is nothing worse for car owners when they discover new scratches on the car's surface. Although these scratches have no significance on the vehicle's safety and driving performance, they are still frustrating for car owners.

The most common scratches on a car are on bumpers, rims, mirrors, door edges, headlights, windshields, edges and joints on the body.

In addition to small surface scratches, they can also be deep. Deep scratches are more dangerous and more difficult to remove. If they stay on the bodywork for a long time, this is the ideal place for corrosion to occur.

The VinCheckExpert report allows you to see whether there were major or minor scratches on the vehicle's body by checking the chassis number (VIN), based on the images of the vehicle and the expertise performed by SGS, Dekra, Macadam or VAB.

Internal scratches

In addition to external scratches, the interior of the vehicle is not resistant to damage and wear. Internal damage in the vehicle significantly affects the perception that the customer has when evaluating the vehicle.

The most common interior damages are: worn steering wheel, worn gear lever, torn or worn seats, control pedals, scratched instrument panel and display, damaged window lifter buttons.

Our research showed that 87% of buyers believe that small scratches on used vehicles are a normal phenomenon and do not significantly affect their perception of the car's price.

On the other hand, as many as 95% of used car buyers believe that internal scratches or major interior damage significantly influence their decision to buy a car and their perception of its value. They believe that the interior of the vehicle in the ad images is very different from the actual condition of the vehicle.

A flood

Flood damage represents all vehicle damage caused by downpours, heavy rainfall, torrents, silt and sediment deposits, overflowing rivers and riverbeds. These are damages caused by flowing fresh water after various weather disasters and crisis situations.

A flood on a car causes damage to the engine, electronics, cables, engine computer (ECU), battery, alternator, starter, alternator, fuses, audio system, installations, airbags, vehicle interior.

The biggest problem with floods is the failure of vehicle control computers in as many as 95% of cases. They control the operation of the engine, fuel metering, air conditioning, airbags, audio system and other components. Computer repair is the most expensive in any newer vehicle, while owners of older vehicles are "luckier" in this case.

Flood damage to a vehicle depends on how much water has entered the vehicle. If it is 20 centimeters, the damage to the electronics is less and it is payable to repair the car. If the water is up to the instrument panel, most of the electronic components and devices will be damaged, and thus the repair will be more expensive.

Repair of electronic components such as alternator, starter, air conditioner compressor is possible and is done when the engine is dry, while computers are always thrown away and replaced with new ones.

For many models, repair in case of heavy flooding is unprofitable and these cars are sold for parts and go to the auto junkyard.

A fire

A car fire is a potential danger for all drivers. Research has shown that the number of diesel cars that were affected by fire is much higher compared to cars with a gasoline engine or gas.

The most common cause of fire is a fault in equipment, a heat source, electrical installations, mechanical problems or fuel ignition. However, in 23% of cases, it is not possible to determine the cause of the fire.

Fire can occur due to traffic accidents, carelessness during repairs and sudden breakdowns. Among the locations where the fire breaks out, in 62% of cases it is the engine, and 16% is the passenger compartment.

If a fire breaks out, you need to stop the car and turn off the engine. Then, all passengers should leave the vehicle. Press the handle to open the hood, slowly open the hood, but only enough to allow the jet from the fire extinguisher to reach the flame. Otherwise, a higher amount of oxygen can fuel the fire even more.

If you do not have a fire extinguisher or cannot put out the fire, call the fire department.

A hail

The hail is one of the biggest nightmares of drivers. A large number of car owners do not have the possibility to keep their vehicles in the garage, so the largest number of vehicles under the open sky are exposed to bad weather, among which the hail is one of the worst.

Hail damage is evident on the vehicle's body and windows. Repairing the vehicle after the hail and returning it to its original condition is neither easy nor cheap. Damages must be repaired as soon as possible, since corrosion occurs quickly in these places.

One of the methods of repairing a damaged vehicle is induction. With a special device, the tin is heated and straightened, returning it to its original position without damaging the varnish and paint.

For larger damages, the ironing method is used, which is based on pulling out the dented sheet metal and correcting it. After this rough method, the paint and varnish are damaged, and it is usually necessary to paint the corrected part.

One of the best methods of protection against hail is a tarpaulin. If you suspect that there may be a storm or hail, it is best to have a tarpaulin in your car with which you can cover the car and protect it from possible hail damage. Anti-hail tarpaulins are made of multi-layer material, foam, sponge and thermal foil. They cover the entire car and protect the vehicle well from hail, ice, snow, tar, dust.

Vandalism

Vandalism is intentional damage to a vehicle by a person, which was not caused by traffic. Research in the EU has shown that almost 30% of drivers are victims of vandalism. The average cost of damage to a vehicle caused by vandals is around 700 EUR.

The most common damages caused by vandalism are:

• Cut tires
• Scratches from keys, knives or other sharp objects
• Broken glass
• Broken mirrors
• Broken windshield wipers
• Broken headlights
• Graphites
• Theft of vehicle parts
• Theft of items and equipment from vehicles

Vandals are individuals who intentionally damage other people's property, which includes vehicles. Although there are individual cases of vandalism, the largest number of vandalisms occurs during various civic meetings, protests and demonstrations, sports competitions - above all football matches, where as a rule there are clashes between two or more groups or clashes between citizens or fans and the police.

If your windows are broken, do not clean immediately. Take photos of the damage and the vehicle. Inspect the vehicle carefully to see if any items have been stolen from the vehicle. If something is missing, write down what was stolen and estimate the value of the stolen items. Call the police, so that they can investigate and make a report, which can be used for your insurance.

How can I check if the car has had an accident or damage?

The best way to check if a car has had an accident or damage is to get a vehicle history report. Based on the data from various sources, you can see if the car has had an accident, date of the incident, the type of damage and the cost of repairs.

Sometimes these damages can be large and they significantly affect the performance of the vehicle and its value. Other reports may show minor damage, which does not have a major impact on the reliability and safety of the vehicle.

Information about your vehicle's accident and damage history can help you in the following ways:

• If you are selling a car, protect yourself from potential liability and false claims
• If you are buying a car, discover events that the seller may not have known or wanted to hide from you
• This information can help you negotiate a price and discover the car's fair market value

If there are no records of accidents and damages, that's good news for you. Even if the car has had some damage or an accident, and it has been properly repaired and maintained, this is not bad news at all and should not deter you from buying, as you can get a lower price.

Our reports show that 30% of imported cars have minor or major damage. Therefore, if you are buying a used car, create a VINCheckExpert report to determine whether the car has had an accident and major or minor damage.

How can I sell a damaged car?

The main problem with owning or selling a damaged vehicle is its price. All damages, accidents and incidents significantly affect the value of the vehicle, i.e. reduce its price.

Due to unequal information between buyers and sellers of used cars, buyers are very suspicious of sellers. Selling a damaged car is not easy. Customers are unsure of the nature of the damage. If the car has damages, they increase the risk and costs of repairing and maintaining the vehicle in the future. Car history reports reveal which parts of the car were damaged and how much the repairs cost.

Be careful when buying a used car, so that you don't buy a damaged car that will be difficult to sell later. If you still own a car that was previously damaged, make an effort to save all repair receipts and enter all repairs in the vehicle's history.

Also, get a history report on the vehicle you're selling so you can explain to the buyer all the damage and repairs you've had. This is a good way to sell your car with a small price reduction. Otherwise, you have to be prepared for a drastic price reduction in order to sell your own car.

How to create a used vehicle history report by chassis number (VIN)?

All you need to do is enter the 17-digit VIN number in the "Enter VIN" field and click the Search button. After a few seconds, VIN Decoder will provide a free VIN check and some basic information. This info should be enough to check whether the VIN is valid or not.

To create a complete report about the vehicle, such as mileage records, odometer fraud, estimate mileage, accidents and damages, theft check, market value, and previous images, you should download a VinCheckExpert vehicle history report.

VinCheckExpert also verifies: