can i find out free if my car has been in an accident?

[teewrex]

ive just bought my corsa ive got this terrible feeling somethings happened to it, the gap between the bonnet and wing is quite wide on passenger side and the rubber around the headlight is missing. to add to that the drivers seat doesnt always move foward when you lift the lever ( its a 3door) and when i go around a roundabout it feels like its swaying. the wheels are really clonky on it on normal road. what do you think?

 

[Belle427]

you can normally see parts that may have been changed if its been in a prang,you may benefit from a 4 wheel alignment check but these are not free,nothing is in this world!

 

[Diyisfun]

Ask you insurance company, they would know if there has been a claim on that car.
But of course it could have been in a bang & fixed not under insurance.

 

[Spark123]

Do you know anyone who is experienced in the motor trade which you could get to have a look? Take it to a garage and get it up onto a ramp so the underside can be inspected too. Another give away is when you park it under a yellow streetlight is there any variation in colours between panels? (won't work if the whole car was resprayed!!)

 

[InTheBeginning2007]

how tight are you?
It is only £3.95 at www.mycarcheck.com

You dont need to pay £30-£40 like some web sites charge. Of corse they will only tell you if it has been in a recorded, insurance claim accident. There are plenty of accident dammaged cars (especially very expensive merc's, BMW's, Audi's etc ) that the insurance company simply forget to record the accident on. Very suspicious if you ask me.

Checking the car very thoroughly is the only real way to tell.

 

[Crickleymal]

I've got to ask the question, why did you buy it if it seems so bad? Didn't you test drive it?

Sorry if this seems a bit harsh.

 

[wotan]

I've got to ask the question, why did you buy it if it seems so bad? Didn't you test drive it?

Sorry if this seems a bit harsh.

If it's not fit for purpose, you do have rights, providing it's not been too long.

Wotan

 

[Diyisfun]

BUT.....Was it bought from a dealer?

 

[Stivino]

He's probably got another car by now. The original post is over four years old.

 

[Crickleymal]

He's probably got another car by now. The original post is over four years old.

Doh! At least I wasn't the only one who didn't notice