Does a Car Dealer have to tell u before u buy your car, that it has been involved in an accident?

Question

Bought a Used 2004 Nissan Sentra SE-R SpecV. And I think the car has been in an accident prior to me owning it.

Answer 1

Hi,

Regardless of what the dealer tells you or doesn't tell you here are a few things to ask and to look for yourself.

Ask if the vehicle had any of the following problems:

1. Accidents
2. Salvage tittle
3. Engine issues
4. Burning oil
5. Clear tittle

Also, the best way is to see for yourself. Here are 10 of the key things to look for at the dealership or private sale:

First, check out the body of the car, looking beyond the styling and paying attention to the details.

1. Look at the seams. Check the gaps between body panels. Are the gaps uniform throughout? A well-engineered and constructed car will show the same body gaps around the doors, the trunk and the hood. Pay particular attention to this on vehicles that have been significantly redesigned or are all new to the market. Although the old adage about not buying a redesigned model in the first year generally no longer applies, varying body gaps may indicate the assembly process needs some adjusting.

2. Match colors. Pay attention to the places on the body where different materials are used, such as where a nose made of a composite plastic material meets the steel of the rest of the body. The paint should not noticeably change hue from one surface to another.

3. What lies beneath? Look under the car to see what protrusions, particularly at the front, could get hung up on parking berms and rip free. Most cars have some sort of air dam underneath the vehicle at the front to aid in cutting aerodynamic drag. But such air dams should be mounted far enough back so parking berms won't rip them off or should be mounted in such a way as to bend rather than break when encountering an object.

4. Under the hood. Even if you're no mechanic, closely inspect the engine bay. Most cars have a cover that surrounds most of the top of the engine. Make sure it's mounted securely -- you shouldn't be able to shake it. The same test should apply to any battery covering. Look at the wiring. It should be either covered or tightly bound together to prevent anything from coming loose. Check for engine and transmission oil leaks.

5. Eye the glass. Look at the window glass and see how the side windows fit against the rubber gaskets when closed. Anything less than a perfect fit will result in wind noise that will only get worse as the car ages.

6. Door "thunk". Open and close the doors, looking for how many so-called "stops" are built into the hinges. A vehicle's door should have two settings so that it will stay open in a half-way position and fully opened. Shut the door and listen for any sort of hollow boom, which could indicate there's less sound-deadening material in the door, which will mean greater road noise.

7. Interior design. Check out the finish on the interior panels. While plastic is the industry norm when it comes to door panels and dashboards, there's a wide variety of grains and finishes applied to the plastic. The dash and panels should have a rich-looking color and have a textured feel to the casual touch. As with the body, the gaps between interior panels should be close and uniform. Look especially where the air bags are hidden.

8. Exposed wiring. If the car you're interested in has power-adjustable front seats, feel under them to see how the wiring and motor coverings are secured. Loose wires or coverings could lead to problems in the future.

9. Little things mean a lot. Pay attention to things like seat latches. They should work with minimal effort and all handles should feel secure, not prone to bending or twisting. Check the stitching and seams of the seats for any loose threads or less-than-straight sewing. Open the trunk and see how the floor covering is secured and whether it's made of a material that will stand up to carrying heavy or dirty cargo.

10. Serious test drive. Lastly, when you've all but settled on the vehicle you want, take an extended test drive, not just a spin around the block. Drive at freeway speeds and pay attention to wind and road noise. Pay attention to how the automatic transmission shifts. It should change gears smoothly and quickly. On a manual transmission, feel where the clutch starts to engage and how long or short the pedal travel is. It should engage gradually and not have any abrupt lurches. Find a safe area to test the brakes. You're not so much looking for what the car will do in a panic stop, but rather how the brakes feel when you apply the pedal. Depending on how far the pedal travels, the feel of the brakes should inspire confidence that the vehicle will stop in a relatively short distance.

All of this may sound like a no-brainer step to buying a car, but according to a recent study, more than 40 percent of new car buyers closed the deal without even taking a short test drive.

Smart buyers will pay attention to every aspect of a car in order to get a vehicle that will deliver value.

Good Luck!

Mike
car enthusiast
http://www.europautoparts.com

Answer 2

A car dealer is obligated by law to disclose repairs over $800 that was performed by the dealership. However, if the vehicle was in an accident and was traded in but the previous owner did not go through their insurance to repair the damage (paid out of pocket)or a police report was not filed, then there will be no record of the repairs and damage. Even if the dealer knows about the accident/damage prior but Carfax does not have it in their records, then what do you think they're going to tell you-"Not to the best of our knowledge" unless ofcourse there's visible frame damage then it's up to you to opt out of buying the vehicle. Remember a record is information provided. If there was no info to record then there is no record.

Answer 3

You can run the vin# at carfax.com but it'll only tell you things that were reported. I've been in numerous accidents (1 was a total loss and another $6000 repair job) and none of the accidents were ever recorded at carfax, when checked years later. So it's not 100% reliable as far as I'm concerned.

Dealers are not required to tell you about any accidents they may know about.... all they are required to do is safety check the cars to make sure they are road-worthy. It could have been in 100 major accidents and required 2000 repairs but they aren't lawfully forced to disclose them, at least not in CA.

Answer 4

No. Ask the dealer for a free Car Fax report. If they will not, then do not do business with them. Always get a Car Fax report before you commit to buying a used car.

Answer 5

Yes it is required by law. I know there are websites that offer services for you to see if your car has been in an accident. You need the VIN# off your car. It's usually in the front door ledge when you open it. Or maybe the trunk.

Answer 6

i wish they would but you can order a carfax report and that should give you the information that you need. the car dealer has one for the car im looking to buy but i pulled a free report on my own and all looks good. but carfax only gives you the information that was reported to the dmv.

Answer 7

Whether or not they are legally required to tell you probably depends on what state you live in. Generally speaking, they would not tell you even if the law required it, but they may not even know themselves. You can get a vehicle history report on carfax.com though.

Answer 8

ABSOLUTLY if you find out it has, and they didn't tell u there in deep Cux u can sue for the amount on the loan and pain and agravation...or the selling price of the car.....Did u ask and they said no or what?

Answer 9

I believe they do have to report basicaly anything thats happened to it
Like water damage, accident, aftermarket parts

Answer 10

No, but you can run Carfax and check out the car's history.