Before people buy used cars, they should acquire a thorough and correct history of the cars in which they are interested. Knowing the previous accidents, damages, and general incidents, will help prevent costly future problems that may occur when people purchase previously owned vehicles. Below is a general list and definition of terms involved in the history of cars:
- Was the car in a major accident? – Major accidents can severely affect the safety and value of a car. Without a history check, people can be in serious potential danger.
- Was the car salvaged? – If a car was damaged in a major accident or wreck but still runs (for the time being), it is considered salvaged. Cars considered “totaled” by insurance companies can be sold at auctions and then reconstructed. It is important to be aware of any major internal or external work done.
- Is the car a lemon? – Most states have Lemon Laws which determine if a car is decent enough to be sold and will tag cars as ‘lemons’ so people who want to purchase used cars know these cars are bad. A complete history of the car will state whether or not it is a lemon.
- Does the car have flood damage or fire damage? – Without a history check, flood or fire damaged vehicles can be sold in different states to buyers unaware. People should know even if damage is not visible to the naked eye, it does not mean there is not any.
- Was the car stolen? – People buy used cars not knowing they were stolen. It is also useful to know if a car was stolen but then recovered – people planning to obtain used vehicles should make sure there was not any damage done during the abduction or recovery or that it was assessed if there was damage.
- Was there odometer fraud? – Odometer fraud can give the appearance that a car has less mileage than it actually does, as well as cause further odometer malfunction. Know the true mileage when looking to purchase used cars by obtaining a full history.
- Was the car leased? – Leased cars are those that were registered by their drivers but not owned. People should be aware that drivers of leased cars are generally harder on their cars than owners because they only keep their cars for a specified amount of time, usually about two to four years.
- Was the car a rental? – Rental cars are driven by many people under many different conditions. People who are interested in rental cars should acquire the rental histories.
- Was the car a taxi or police vehicle? – Cars registered “for hire” or law enforcement can be driven harshly in certain areas, but can also be repaired nicely as well. People should keep taxi and police cars in mind if the history is acceptable.
If you plan to purchase previously owned vehicles, always do everything you can to research the history of the cars. You can successfully obtain used automobiles with a lot of research to back you up. When looking to buy used cars, the Internet is a wonderful research tool. Check for fair market prices and history reports all from your home or office computer.
By Monica Drusch