There’s a lot of mismatched paint, so I doubt this is just a minor fender bender. The repairs look questionable, and I’m not convinced it was ever properly inspected after the crash. With a salvage title, you won’t be able to resell it easily, and insurance might be a headache too. Personally, I’d offer $500, but that’s a real lemons car.
@Sky
It’s probably worth more in parts than as a whole car.
I’ve got a 2013 Fit with a clean title, but it’s been through a bad accident. It leaks terribly when it rains because of poor repairs around the hatch. Water comes in through the back hatch and where it wasn’t sealed right after the crash. Be careful – this car might have the same issue, body damage and leaks. Tried posting pictures but couldn’t get it to work.
@Shane
How could it have a clean title but also have been in a bad accident?
Koa said:
@Shane
How could it have a clean title but also have been in a bad accident?
A clean title doesn’t always mean it’s never been in an accident. A car only gets a salvage title if the damage is severe enough to be considered a total loss. If the damage is repairable and the costs are low, it may still keep a clean title.
Koa said:
@Shane
How could it have a clean title but also have been in a bad accident?
Honestly, I’m not sure. The shop had it as a loaner car, and they might not have reported the accident. The car was probably hit by someone without insurance, and the shop didn’t want to report it to keep the title clean. I didn’t notice the damage until the leaks started and I had to remove the interior. The shop owner insisted it wasn’t in an accident, but now I’m not so sure.
Koa said:
@Shane
How could it have a clean title but also have been in a bad accident?
Simple. If you don’t tell anyone about the accident, no one will know.
It seems like you’re getting some bad info here. If it has a salvage title, buying it is no different than buying any other car. The only real difference is insurance coverage. For example, if you have full coverage and the car gets totaled again, the payout might only be 60% of its value compared to a clean title. The title will show as salvage, but you can still drive it around. If it has a salvage certificate, you’ll need to go through a brake and light inspection and DMV verification, which can be a hassle. Ask yourself if the $3k is worth the extra work. Check the VIN and call your insurance to get more details.
@Kellen
Call my insurance company with the car’s VIN? That sounds odd.
Koa said:
@Kellen
Call my insurance company with the car’s VIN? That sounds odd.
Exactly. Just call them and ask, ‘If I buy this car, what would the insurance be like?’ Give them the VIN, and if there’s a problem, they’ll let you know. You’re paying them anyway, right?
I’d offer $1500. If they don’t accept, then it wasn’t meant to be.
I see the car has California tags, and let me tell you, getting a rebuilt title here was a huge pain. The brake and light inspection was discontinued, and now you have to pass a much tougher Vehicle Safety Systems Inspection. The inspection is very detailed and checks everything – even the thickness of the brake drums. Be sure the car will pass this inspection before you buy. It could fail over small issues, so make sure you check it out properly.
@Ainsley
I don’t really understand the details of car inspections. Can you break it down for me in simple terms?
Koa said:
@Ainsley
I don’t really understand the details of car inspections. Can you break it down for me in simple terms?
Sure! You can buy a car with a salvage title without much trouble, but when you need to renew the registration, you’ll have to get a rebuilt title first. Before last year, you only had to pass a simple brake and light check. Now, there’s a new inspection called the Vehicle Safety Systems Inspection, which is a lot more strict and checks the car thoroughly.
How much is the seller asking for it?
Reeve said:
How much is the seller asking for it?
$2800
Reeve said:
How much is the seller asking for it?
$2800
Offer half that and tell him to contact you when it doesn’t sell.
The seller is asking way too much for this car.
Tell them you’ll offer $800, and if they don’t accept, walk away.