Are you looking to buy a used vehicle?

If the answer is YES, then you are on the right path of saving thousands on the purchase price of your chosen vehicle. The list of benefits is long and tempting, but you should always stay cautious. When buying a used vehicle, it is important to keep an eye out for any signs that the vehicle has been involved in an accident in the past.

Here's a simple 7-step guide on how to find out possible accident damage:

1. Get a vehicle history report

Complete car history is available if you contact a vehicle history company. The file should contain a comprehensive list of past owners, as well as insurance information and any accident or claim reports filed in connection with the vehicle. This will give you a good idea of what kind of damage you should expect when inspecting the car yourself.

2. Cracks in the fenders and bumpers

Make sure to check both ends of the vehicle for cracks or patches. Fenders and bumpers break easily in crashes because they are made of lightweight or plastic composite materials. If you notice that repairs have been made, this can be a good indicator of previous damage.

3. Windscreen damage

Check all windows, front, side and rear, for noticeable damage- this could be a scratch, a crack or a strip. Each can indicate that the vehicle was involved in a collision.

4. Body lines

When you see people cringing to look at a car, they know what they're doing. By setting the eye level with the body of the vehicle and looking down the mainline from the side of the body, you can see if the colour of the vehicle reflects normally. Irregular lines or distorted reflections indicate that the panels have been replaced or hammered out due to body damage.

5. Doors and panel gaps

If the vehicle was involved in an accident, then you should notice uneven gaps due to displacement or unmatching panels or doors. Check the gaps between the doors and the joining panels of the body- the gaps should be straight and even from top to bottom.

6. Feel the body for stains

Accidental damage might leave a vehicle with bumps or uneven spots when a filler is used to repair damaged areas. The spots can easily be felt by pushing the palm down on the body panels, the fenders, and bumpers.

7. Clamp Marks

If there are noticeable clamp marks around the frame of a used vehicle, then that is a clear sign that the vehicle has been on a frame for major repairs.

This step-by-step guide will help you determine the true value of the vehicle and It also allows you to identify any existing or future problems that may arise.

Start your used vehicle search here . If you'd like to test drive one of the used vans for sale, have a look at our website to see what we have for you, and call us at our Essex dealership on 01279 216163. Ask us about our vans on finance and van contract hire offers too.

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Company Info

Reg Office: London Road, Harlow, United Kingdom, CM17 9AN

Reg. Company Number: 4907341

VAT Reg. No. 830236069

Financial disclosure

Vanwise Group Ltd is an Appointed Representative of Automotive Compliance Ltd, who is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA No 497010). Automotive Compliance Ltd’s permissions as a Principal Firm allows Vanwise Group Ltd to act as a credit broker, not as a lender, for the introduction to a limited number of lenders and to act as an agent on behalf of the insurer for insurance distribution activities only.

We are a credit broker and not a lender. We can introduce you to a limited number of lenders and their finance products. We are not an independent financial advisor and we act as their agent for this introduction. We may advise you on the products, subject to your personal circumstances, though you are not obliged to take our advice or recommendation. We do not charge you a fee for our services. Whichever lender we introduce you to, we will typically receive commission from them (either a fixed fee or a fixed percentage of the amount you borrow). For your reassurance, all of the lenders we work with could pay commission at different rates, but the commission we receive does not influence the interest rate you will pay. Our aim is to secure finance for you at the lowest interest rate you are eligible for from our panel of lenders. If you ask us what the amount of commission is, we will tell you in good time before the Finance agreement is executed. All finance applications are subject to status, terms and conditions apply, UK residents only, 18’s or over. Guarantees may be required.

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