 |
This means that once a car reaches a certain dollar value in damages, the insurance company calls it a total loss. Not all these cars are total losses, however. Many of them are repaired, bought, and sold all over the country. In the following paragraphs, we’ll take a look at some of the most common damages that cars suffer and what happens to these cars after the damage occurs.
Cars Damaged By Weather
Hail damage is perhaps the most common form of weather damage to cars. The good thing about hail damage, if there can be a good thing, is that it is visible. Furthermore, hail damaged cars can be repaired without incurring a large repair bill. In most cases, those who can get a good deal on a hail damaged car should seriously consider buying the car, although you might want to get an estimate first of how much the repairs will cost.
Flood damage is a different matter entirely, and although it is quite serious, flood damaged cars are not always easy to spot. That’s because there can be a wide variety of flood damage to the car that is not immediately visible. For example, you could unknowingly buy a flood damaged car that looks as clean as a whistle, yet has problems in the electrical system or even the engine or transmission that don’t surface until it is too late.
The truth is that hundreds of thousands of cars have been affected by flood damage, many, but not all of them from hurricanes. Floodwaters also affect thousands of cars in areas that flood with no hurricane in sight, and no national news about the storm. While cars that have been flooded should carry a flood or salvage branded title, sometimes, unscrupulous dealers or even private citizens will move them to another state, especially if the storm was well publicized and repair only the damage that can be easily seen.
Even if you’re purchasing a used car in an area that has sustained no water damage, it is still a good idea to be on the lookout for flood damaged cars. In addition, get a vehicle history report from Carfax.com, which can help identify cars that have received flood damage. Also, see the Carfax.com website for a full report on how to spot a flood damaged car. They have an extensive list of things you should look for besides a musty odor and rust. Learn more at http://www.carfax.com.
Accident Damaged Cars
Often, damaged cars for sale have been in accidents and declared total losses, when, in fact, once repaired, they are safe to drive, and you might even get a bargain. One of the most important things to check when you consider buying accident damaged cars is whether the airbags deployed, and if so, were they properly replaced? A car that was damaged beyond economical repair, for example, could still be repaired by a dealer that has a repair shop or who otherwise chooses to repair it. When the car is first totaled, it will receive a salvage title. After it is repaired, it may receive a restored salvage title, but in order for this to happen, the dealer will have to prove that the car is actually repaired. Unfortunately, as in most other areas of trade and commerce, fraud does occur. Some unscrupulous dealers don’t really replace the airbags, and the only way the new owner discovers this is when they don’t deploy in a future accident, which can be deadly.
While you can get some good deals by buying accident damaged cars, it helps to know what to look for. One way to get as much information as possible is to purchase a Carfax vehicle history report. This report will tell you if the car has been wrecked and if the airbags have deployed. Once you discover that the airbags have indeed deployed, then you can set about requesting the information that they were actually replaced. You can get a Carfax vehicle history report at http://www.carfax.com.
Salvage Titles
Salvage titled cars have a bad name, but that is mostly because people don’t understand salvage titles. While a car with a salvage title can be a negative thing if you buy it without realizing it, many people purposely set out to buy a car with a salvaged title in order to save money. While laws vary from state to state, for the most part, a car will be issued a salvaged title when the damages or repair costs exceed about 75% of the car’s value. Some states also issue salvage titles for stolen cars, and when this happens and the car is recovered in good condition, whoever buys it can really clean up!
For the most part, salvage cars that have not been repaired are a good buy for people who can do the work themselves to fix the car. Salvaged cars that have been restored can also be a good buy, but you want to make sure the car was actually restored with new or like new parts. In most cases, the dealer should have to provide proof of the repairs that were done, but this is something you should be aware of nonetheless. In addition, dealers must disclose that they are selling you a car with a salvage title. The same goes for private sales; anytime a car with a salvage title is sold, disclosure must be made.
Realize, though, that even if you manage to get a great deal on a car with a salvage title, you may have trouble getting rid of the car down the road. Now, if you are in the market for a good used car, and you manage to find one with a salvage title, this may not matter to you if you plan to drive the car until it is no longer drivable, hopefully several years. Just realize that most dealers won’t take cars with salvage titles in a trade, and private parties may not be interested in purchasing the car either. For this reason, if you like to trade your car every few years, you may not want to mess with a car with a salvage title. For more information on damaged cars, see http://www.rebuiltcars.com, as they have a very interesting FAQ about damaged cars. In addition, http://www.edmunds.com also provides a wealth of information you might find useful.
|
