Looking for a used car? DANGER! This is how you recognize damaged cars

The average price of a used car has increased by 30 percent in the past year. And fraudsters also profit from this by selling (often imported) damaged cars. Of course without mentioning the damage history.

But how do you prevent yourself from buying a pig in a poke when it comes to cars? Damaged cars are not always recognizable as such. Unless you know what to look out for.

Damaged cars are often imported

You can almost always view the damage history of used cars delivered new in the Netherlands online. Unfortunately, this is not the case with imported cars. Just like mileage, damage is often manipulated.

How do I recognize an imported car?

A reputable car company will likely mention that a used car on offer was imported. If this is not the case, you can consult the RDW website.

If the “date of first registration” matches the “date of first registration in the Netherlands”, the car comes from the Netherlands. If this is not the case, these are imports.

Request an online damage report

You can request the damage history of an original Dutch car on various websites such as finnik.nl or kentekencheck.nl for 10 euros. Please note that these are only repairs carried out by a recognized company. You can see where the damage was, how much the repair cost and what the car’s mileage was at the time.

This way you can identify damaged cars yourself

You will not find a damage report for imported cars and for Dutch cars that have not been repaired by an approved damage repairer. Fortunately, you can also identify damaged cars yourself.

You can do this by carrying out an inspection yourself, preferably in daylight and when the car is clean and dry. It’s important that you don’t let a salesperson bully you. Take the time to implement all the tips against damaged cars.

1. Exterior inspection

• Do the doors fit the car well?
• Are there color differences in the paint?
• Are the fastening seams between body parts even?
• Is there moisture in the headlights or taillights?
• Is the paint thickness the same everywhere? (You will need a paint thickness gauge for this)
• Are the rim edges badly damaged? This could indicate a damaged car or someone who is very bad at parking.
• Are the tires worn unevenly? (This may indicate chassis damage)

2. Internal inspection

• Are there signs of leaks such as mold, musty smells or rings in the upholstery?
• If the steering wheel is straight, are the wheels also straight?
• Are there lights on the dashboard that shouldn’t be on?
• Is there more damage to the interior than just normal wear and tear?

3. Inspection under the hood

• Is the radiator support bent or dented? (it should be straight)
• Are traces of sweat visible?

4. Damaged cars on the bridge

• Is there any damage to the underbody and sills?
• What do the wishbones look like? Are they crooked? Then something is wrong.
• Can’t you put the seller’s car on the bridge? Then that’s suspicious.

5. Be attentive during the test drive

• Do you feel any unusual vibrations?
• Do you hear strange noises?
• Does the car pull to the side?