Tag: salvage title cars

Buying Repaired Salvage Cars For Sale | A Few Practical Tips

repaired salvage cars for sale
(Photo credit: Wikipedia)

 

Buying repaired salvage cars for sale is much trickier than purchasing a brand new car. Before paying, it is recommended to have the vehicle checked by an expert in case there are any hidden problems. Although most countries have laws that prevent unscrupulous sellers from taking advantage of potential buyers, you can save yourself plenty of time by getting your salvage cars inspected prior to buying it.

What Should You Look For?

Some flaws are visible to any consumer, such as a scratched paint job or worn tires. However, other problems can be hidden from even an experienced driver, such as the integral soundness of the vehicle or the inner frame. Once damaged cars have been repaired and polished up, it is very difficult for most buyers to detect if there are any problems.

Ask First

Body and frame repairs can often cost more than a vehicle is worth. Additionally, improper repairs can leave used salvage cars structurally unsafe and may result in serious accidents. Always ask the seller if any repairs have been made on the vehicle, and if so, ask what parts were changed.

The Paint job

Look for paint primer or over spray near the engine compartment, trunk, or doorjambs. Spray marks are usually a sign of body repairs. Make sure the body panel gaps are equal and that the doors shut properly. If one of the doors or the trunk lid is a slightly different color than the rest of the vehicle, it is a sure sign that a repair was made, or that panel was replaced.

The “Salvage” Title

Is the vehicle officially labeled a “salvage” car. Salvage means that an expert has found that the cost to repair the vehicle will probably higher than its actual worth. This usually occurs after the vehicle has been through a serious accident or is very old. There are also cars which have very few problems but because of the low resell value of the car the insurance company will write them off as salvage, they are usually sold as salvage rebuildable cars. Not all salvage title cars are bad quality, but they need to be checked more thoroughly for problems.

Rebuilt Cars

Rebuilt cars are not salvage cars, and they need to be titled as such. Owners are required to specify what major component parts where change along with which vehicles the parts were taken from. If you want a vehicle that will last longer than a salvage car and are willing to pay extra, then a rebuilt car is a good choice.

Taking A Look At Salvage Cars As A Fix Up Project

A salvage car is one that an insurance company has written off as a total loss, but they are repairable. When a car receives this distinction from an insurance company, the title is completely canceled out – which means that according to the law, these damaged cars do not technically exist.

Many salvage title cars come into existence from accidents or other damage such as water damage. Some were brand new at the time of the accident that destroyed them and were sitting on the parking lots of dealerships.

For those who cannot afford a brand new car and are willing to put in a little sweat equity to rebuild a car, salvage car auctions offer a chance to have a drivable vehicle and a chance for the car to be resurrected.

Before you buy salvage cars for sale, it is important to evaluate how much work is required to make the car safe and presentable. If the cost of restoration is more than you would pay for a used car on a lot or from an independent buyer, it is probably not worth the investment — unless you have some sentimental attachment to the car or you need it specifically for salvage car parts that you cannot find anywhere else.

Be aware that some states require salvage cars to have “salvage” titles, while other states let dealers and owners establish a new title altogether. Some shady dealers will often move cars from a salvage title state across the border to a new title state and then try to pass the car off as one that has not been salvaged.

Do your homework; research the title and do as much research on the title as possible to avoid being duped about this. Checking with the National Insurance Crime Bureau or requesting a vehicle history report (like the ones offered by Car Fax) may help you determine the truth. If a car shows up on a Car Fax report, though, you may have some trouble selling it to other buyers.

Some cars end up becoming salvage cars after natural disaster simply because they are on a lot with other salvage cars. When the insurance adjuster comes to make a damage estimate, he or she cannot possibly inspect all the cars on a car lot. Therefore, the person delivers an estimate of how many cars on the lot are damaged, and they all get the designation as salvage cars.

Salvage cars that are not as damaged, but receive a salvage title could make rewarding project cars and save you thousands of dollars.