How to Buy a Used Car and
Not Get Taken

5. Looking for Accident Damage

Has the car been in an accident
The majority of used cars have not been in a major accident. However, according to figures quoted by 60 Minutes, of the millions of used cars that enter the market each year, somewhere around one million are, in fact, cars that have been in a major accident-and adjudged to have been "totaled" by the insurance company.
At the same time, don't discount a car because it has been in a minor accident. If a car has been in a "fender bender" and has been repaired properly, it may still represent a good value. In most cases, it's only when there's been structural damage or when the repairs have not been done correctly that you need to be concerned. If you find the car that you're considering has been in an accident severe enough to damage the frame, walk away!

How Cant You tell?
As we suggested earlier, it's not always easy-even for a professional. A good body shop can make even a beat-up car look very good. However, even they will have a hard time hiding their work from a professional mechanic. In the final analysis, it's always best to have your suspicions confirmed or alleviated by a professional. But before you take the car to a professional for evaluation, here are some things you can do which might help you decide for yourself if the car has been in a major accident.

1. Ask the seller point-blank
One of the easiest-and often most effective-ways is to look the seller directly in the eye and ask. You'd be surprised how honest people are when they're caught off guard.