Does a used car dealer have to tell you if the car has been in an accident previously?

Answer 1

A dealer is required to tell you about any major body repairs that they did, but you can not hold the dealer responsible for previous work. If you have a car that has been wrecked and repaired, when you go to trade it in do you tell the dealer, knowing that he is going to use that information to reduce the price he gives you for your trade in? Neither do 99% of the people trading or selling their own cars.

A dealer may run a carfax or similar title check, but again they are not required to do so. Even if they do, all repairs may not show up. If there is no insurance claim, there will be no record on carfax. Some people pay for their own repairs. Unless the car has a salvage branded title, the dealer may not know of previous damage!

The dealer bought the car. He does not know the entire history of the vehicle. It is up to the buyer to have anything that worrys them checked out prior to purchase. Always have a car you are considering buying checked by your own mechanic. It is worth the cost. You may want to do your own carfax check too!

Answer 2

If the Carfax is clean, *it's possible* the dealer didn't even know about the accident. If the person who had the accident, fixed the car themself, and never went through insurance, there will be no record of what happened. And it's unlikely they would tell the dealership since it would hurt their personal trade-in value. If you had proof that the salesman knew about the accident when he sold you the car, and kept it from you, you could go to the VSA (Vehicle Sales Authority) and complain, which is where salesmen get their license to sell, (in Canada, anyway) But honestly if this was 2 years later and you have no proof... I wouldn't expect anything. It's a risk you take buying used cars.

Answer 3

I use to be a manager at a used car dealer, and straight foward no bull, they have no idea unless they bought it wrecked, and it has a salvaged title. A lot of dealers go to the auction and buy them, and if the title is clear, then they do not know. They are what they are, and that is a used car. You take a gamble just like a dealer does when they go and buy them for themselves. They are used. So the best thing I can recamend is what ever you are looking at, just look at it close, and do a car fax on the car!!!!

Answer 4

if the accident was bad enough to be filled under 'salvaged' then yes... they are required. otherwise no. which is why its always a good idea for you, the buyer, to take initiative and ask the dealer if the car has been in an accident, salvaged or not. by you asking, the dealer has to answer. otherwise, the dealer will never bring it up

Answer 5

as a buyer, it is our responsibility to check a car before buying it. Carfax is available to everyone, dealers will provide you one for free on the car you are looking at. They are not require to disclose an accident "if" they know about it. They are required though to disclose if there is a salvage, tmu, or flood title.

Answer 6

They could argue that they didn't know and you would have to prove that they did.

Complicated so best to have a HPI check before you buy to see if the car was registered as a damaged repaired.

Answer 7

Selling a "cut and shunt" or a car that has been written off is illegal. Apart from that they don't have to tell you but if you ask they must tell the truth. It's possible they don't know (it may have been minor and the person who sold it to them may not have passed on the information) but they should give you an honest answer.

Answer 8

No - obviously they're supposed to tell you but they dont otherwise you wouldnt buy the car. I've had the AA look over 2 cars that we nearly brought - both were cut and shuts deemed dangerous !!!!! Maybe we should have reported them to trading standards but didnt think at the time - I think they would be prosecuted and shut down xxx

Answer 9

ALWAYS go for certified vehicles trust ME... i remember when i got my first car was not certified worked good at the start but fell apart on me.... if u buy a used un-certified vehicle...they dont have to tell u s-h-i-t....if it looks fine to them....then its fine for u....they just tryy to make money any way they can... if u are buying a used un-certified car then take the vin number down and do research on the car... ur boy J....holla.....beware of the lemons

Answer 10

In the UK I am pretty sure no only if you ask the question best you do a HPI check on it this will give you complete peace of mind