What You Need To Know Before You Buy An Accidented Car

A lot of us buy “accidented” cars because we want to save money. But there are things you need to know before buying an accidented car.

Salvaged vehicles, or in Nigerian parlance accidented cars, are cars that have been deemed as a total loss by the insurance company. Because these vehicles have been involved in some major accidents, the airbags usually go off. Subsequently, they become a potential hazard to drive.

See also: I bought my car cheaper than the normal price. What price should I insure it for?

In the US, upon writing off a car as Total loss, the insurance company would pay the insured for the value of their car and take the damaged vehicle as their property. Then the insurance company sells the car at auctions for very cheap rate.

A lot of Nigerians are now in the business of buying these cars in auction, shipping them to Nigeria and repairing them here. When it is all said and done, it would cost a lot less than the cost to buy a non accident car. sometimes, up to 50% less.

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Hence, I am writing to enlighten you on what you need to know before buying an “accidented” car.

Advantages of buying salvaged cars

Buying salvaged vehicles allow you to:

• Get newer models cars
• Save money on cost of buying a car
• Appear to be a bigger boy or girl than you are
• Need to impress or wow others

Disadvantages of buying salvaged cars

• You may be unlucky and get a car that will give you problems for the rest of its life cycle, hence costing you the more you saved earlier.
• If the airbag was deployed then, it means if you get in a really bad accident, their will be no airbag to save your life
• Insurance companies may not insure the vehicle or may charge higher to insure the vehicle. Another way to lose money saved.

How to get value when buying salvaged vehicle

• Avoid vehicles with frontal impact: It is best to buy cars that have been damaged on the side or at the back. Frontal impact is more likely to deploy airbags and or have electrical issues.
• Avoid flooded vehicles: Once a car becomes flooded, it becomes difficult to fix. It begins to give you one problem after the other.
• Use Carfax to check vehicle’s history: Most salvaged vehicles come to Nigeria from the US. In the US, every salvaged vehicle is expected to be reported to the authorities. Carfax keeps records of these vehicles and you can look up any US vehicle on Carfax with the vehicle identification number (VIN). You can find this on the dashboard of your car.

My first car in 2002 was a salvaged vehicle; 1995 Honda Accord. The car had damages on the two driver’s side doors. I bought it for $1500 and used about $700 to fix it. The car had a little electrical problem as the dashboard light had partial contact. Other than that, I didn’t have much problems with the car. I used it for 5 years and sold it for $2500.

If you want to buy a salvaged vehicle, it is important that you take the necessary steps to protect your car. That doesn’t mean I am advocating for buying salvaged vehicle. I am simply telling you how to protect yourself should you want to do that.

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