A Must To-Do List Before You Get Tempted To Buy A Salvage Car

When the cost of repairing a car goes beyond its actual worth, it is considered totaled and labeled as a ‘salvage car’. You may find hundreds of thousands of such cars at auctions that take place almost every day across the country or through online dealers -- however -- the question, whether or not one must buy a salvage vehicle, is open to debate. When it comes to buying a salvage vehicle, different people have different opinions and fortunes. We -- however -- reaffirm the solid fact that not all salvage cars are worth buying or ignoring. The buying decision should depend completely upon the overall cost and condition of the car, keeping the necessary repairs in mind. In this blog we focus on how you should go about buying a salvage car.

Verify the Title

This is the most important thing that needs to be done before you decide on buying a salvage car. You need to get a free Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) check with the National Insurance Crime Bureau. The VIN number can be seen through the windshield on the driver side’s interior dash. The check will help you ascertain whether the car has a salvage title or has been reported stolen.

Know the exact damage

It is always advisable, rather mandatory, to know how the car was damaged. The reason being, it’s hard to ascertain what needs to be done and what amount would be spent to bring such cars to a reasonably reliable condition. The causes of the damage could be anything among the countless possibilities. One of the most common causes is involvement in a crash, whereas other reasons, though not very common, are floods, fire, vandalism and more.

Know the purchase details

Before buying a salvage car you should consider looking at its insurance, warranty, registration and financing details. This is important because any incomplete information can lead to a lot of complications at a later stage. For example if you do not verify the registration details it may be found later that the vehicle was stolen.

Pre-Purchase Inspection

The best way to get a car inspected is to get it done by a reputable repair shop. Make sure the repair shop or the mechanic you get has no tie-ups with the dealership. The inspection will not only give you peace of mind but will also help you determine the cost that you will incur in getting it repaired.

Compare with a refurbished car

Refurbished cars can save you a lot of time and the hassles of buying and repairing a salvage car. However, what it might not save you is money and it may also not give you the opportunity to tweak it as per your whims and fancies, which a salvage car does. Therefore, before buying a salvage car consider all these factors.