By ALLEN MCQUISTON
Jemez Insurance Agency

Pay the $40 for Carfax or AutoCheck. Look for “structural damage”, “frame damage”, or “airbag deployment”. If the car has moved between states frequently, especially to states with lax title laws, this could be title washing to hide a salvage history. 

Visual Inspection 

• Panel Gaps: Walk around the car and check the spaces between doors, fenders, hood, and trunk. They should be consistent on both sides. Open and close everything—each should operate smoothly with the same solid feel.
• Paint: Run your hand along body panels. Factory paint is smooth; repaints often feel different. Look at the car in good light from angles—repainted panels rarely match perfectly. Check door jambs, under the hood, and the trunk for overspray or color mismatch.
• Magnet Test: Run a cloth-wrapped magnet along steel panels. If it doesn’t stick in spots, there’s body filler underneath from accident repair. 

• Use a flashlight to inspect the frame rails. Look for non-factory welding, paint overspray on the undercarriage, or bending in structural components. Check the radiator support for fresh welds or missing factory stickers. Look at bolt heads for misaligned paint marks—they should line up if they’ve never been removed. 

• On a straight road, briefly let go of the steering wheel. The car should track straight. Pulling to one side can indicate frame damage. 
• Watch the airbag light at startup—it should illuminate then go out. If it stays on or doesn’t light, airbags may have deployed and been improperly replaced.
• Listen for unusual clunks over bumps that could mean poorly repaired suspension points.

• If the seller won’t allow a pre-purchase inspection or gets defensive, walk away. Minor accident histories aren’t deal-breakers if repairs were done right, but you deserve to know the truth.
• Always get an independent mechanic’s inspection before buying. 
• Your safety and wallet depend on it.