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Buying a Damaged or Repaired Car From An Auto Wrecking Yard: 3 Tips

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When a vehicle accident occurs and a car sustains a significant amount of damage, the insurance company which provides cover for the car may judge that the cost of repairing the car is greater than the amount of money the vehicle is worth on the open market. When this situation occurs, the car is "written off" as a complete loss and will then be sold on to an auto wrecking company. The wreckers may decide to dismantle the car for parts and then recycle the scrap metal. However, in some cases, the wrecking yard may perform repairs themselves to salvage the vehicle so it can be resold or may even resell it in its damaged state so the new owner can carry out repairs. If you are thinking about buying a car from an auto wrecking yard, you should consider the following points.

Inspect the car

If you are planning to purchase a damaged car which hasn't had any repair work carried out on it, it is vital that the vehicle is checked over by a professional mechanic. The mechanic will assess every aspect of the car before producing a detailed list of the range and extent of the damage and the labour and parts which would be required to get the vehicle back on the road. This inspection will allow you to establish if the restoration project is feasible in both practical and financial terms.

Establish if any repair work has been completed

You should also check if the wreckers yard has performed any work to repair the smashed car. If any work has been completed, you should ask for copies of any documentation which proves when and how the work was completed. If you are planning to buy a car which has been fully restored by a wrecking yard, you should ask if the car has been issued with a road safety certificate. The certificate will be required to insure the car and will demonstrate that the vehicle has even serviced.

Carry out checks on the vehicle history

You need to ask the auto wreckers for precise details of the type of accident the vehicle was involved in and if any repair work has been carried out, the extent of the original damage. You can also contact the roads and motoring department in your local area to trace the history of the car using paper records. You should never buy a car unless it has a clear and traceable history.

If you would like more information about buying a salvaged car, you should contact an auto wreckers today.


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