A dented body, a crumpled bumper or broken windows - this is probably how most people imagine an accident vehicle. The fact is that many accident vehicles show no signs of damage whatsoever. It is also a fact that the loss in value of such accident vehicles is usually considerable. This is why buying an accident-damaged car can be a lucrative business. We explain what you should know about this topic.
This question is not so easy to answer, as there is no uniform regulation. Even past court rulings show how complex the issue is. One thing is certain: as soon as a part of the car has to be replaced that is relevant to driving safety - for example the steering or the chassis - the vehicle is labeled an accident vehicle. This also applies if larger areas need to be repaired, filled or repainted.
But what about minor damage that has been professionally repaired? The Federal Court of Justice has made a clear statement on this: Any damage that constitutes a material defect in accordance with Section 434 of the German Civil Code (BGB) is accident damage and makes the vehicle an accident car. Accordingly, a product is only free of material defects if it is suitable for normal use and has a normal condition.
This means: Small paint chips, such as those caused by stone chips on the highway or country road, are hardly avoidable, are therefore part of the normal condition and do not make a vehicle an accident vehicle. Any major damage - which does not necessarily have to be caused by an accident in the conventional sense! - constitutes a material defect.
If you want to buy an accident-damaged car, there are several places to go. Car dealerships are always a good place to look and often have a good basis for negotiation, as they want to get rid of vehicles with reduced value quickly.
In addition, insurance companies are often a good source. Particularly in the case of major damage, they often pay out to the insured and thereby acquire the accident vehicle. They then resell these vehicles in the hope of making less of a loss overall.
You can find the right accident car exchanges online. As a buyer, you have a particularly large selection here and can compare the individual accident vehicles more easily. In general, online providers are usually a good source for buying used cars.
If you would like to buy several used cars at the same time, a used car auction could be of interest to you. These are often organized by large car dealerships, where the old used cars are bundled together and offered for sale. There are also numerous providers online where you can buy a car at auction.
Anyone considering buying a car that has been involved in an accident should, above all, carry out very detailed research into the damage. Ideally, Seller should be able to provide evidence of all damage in the form of an expert opinion. Repairs should be traceable through workshop invoices. The more information a buyer has about the accident or the damage, the more trustworthy Seller will appear.
In addition, every car you want to buy should always be thoroughly checked inside and out. This is especially true for accident-damaged vehicles. In particular, it should be clarified whether all visible damage matches the seller's specifications. An inspection of the paintwork and the gap dimensions provides information as to whether the vehicle may have had further damage.
If the seller's asking price seems exaggerated or an exact assessment of the accident vehicle seems difficult, an independent expert opinion can provide information about the objective residual value of the vehicle. A reputable Seller should not stand in the way of this, as they also want to sell their accident vehicles at a fair price.
Buying an accident-damaged car can definitely be worthwhile. The discount increases with the amount of damage. There are several sources for buying accident-damaged vehicles. Auctions are particularly interesting for frequent buyers, where the savings can be particularly large.
However, caution is advised if there are hardly any documents relating to the damage or its repair that can be used to trace the damage. The more open Seller is about the history of the car involved in the accident, the more likely it is that the information provided will be completely truthful.
This depends entirely on the original damage. If the damage to the side panels is manageable and has been professionally repaired, and the damage was mainly to the paintwork, the discount will be relatively small. If, on the other hand, the bodywork has been completely distorted by the accident, a 15% discount (on the repaired vehicle!) is realistic.
Yes, in any case! Accidents must be disclosed, which means that Seller must inform the buyer about them without being asked. If he fails to do so, the buyer can withdraw from the contract, claim compensation if necessary and, in the worst case, even bring an action for attempted fraud. However, not every damage makes a vehicle an accident vehicle. There is sometimes a fine line, so it may be advisable to consult an expert in the event of a dispute.
Many potential buyers have no problem with the accident car's history, especially in the case of minor damage - which, however, also results in less depreciation. However, even badly damaged accident vehicles are often still easy to sell to drivers, for example to tuners or hobbyists who want to buy a basic car relatively cheaply.
Pure paint damage that can be repaired with a touch-up pen does not usually make a vehicle an accident vehicle. However, they may no longer be sold as "accident-free".
If there is little or no evidence of the repair, but everything was supposedly fixed at the authorized workshop, skepticism is warranted. Excessive discounts also tend to indicate that there is more wrong with the vehicle - after all, Seller are not usually Good Samaritans.
