Should You Buy a Used Car After an Accident? | Lebanon Auto

Should You Be Afraid of Buying a Used Car That’s Been in an Accident?

From Ken’s Desk

When shopping for a used vehicle, few things get a buyer’s attention faster than seeing this on a vehicle-history report:

Accident reported.

For some shoppers, that’s the end of the conversation.

They immediately move on to another vehicle.

I understand why. Nobody wants to buy someone else’s problem. But after decades of buying, selling, and servicing used vehicles, I can tell you that an accident on a vehicle’s history doesn’t automatically make it a bad vehicle.

The important question isn’t simply:

“Has this vehicle ever been in an accident?”

The better questions are:

“What happened, how serious was it, and was it repaired properly?”

Not All Accidents Are the Same

The word “accident” covers an enormous range of situations.

A vehicle might have had a bumper damaged in a parking lot.

Another may have struck a deer.

Another could have sustained significant structural damage in a major collision.

All three might show an accident or damage event on a vehicle-history report, but clearly they shouldn’t be evaluated the same way.

That’s why I don't believe you can judge a vehicle simply by seeing an accident notation.

You need to understand the story behind it whenever possible.

Quality of Repair Matters

This is where experience becomes especially important.

A properly repaired vehicle can continue to provide years of dependable service.

A poorly repaired one can become a completely different story.

When evaluating a vehicle with previous damage, we're interested in things such as the quality of the repair, panel fit, paintwork, alignment, how the vehicle drives, and whether there are signs that something wasn't repaired correctly.

We're also concerned about structural damage and anything that could affect the vehicle's safety or long-term reliability.

The fact that a repair occurred matters. The quality of that repair matters even more.

Look at the Vehicle, Not Just the Report

This is a theme you've probably noticed in several of my articles.

Vehicle-history reports are useful tools.

But they aren't the vehicle.

A report can't tell you exactly how a car drives today. It can't fully evaluate the quality of every previous repair. And, as we've discussed before, not every incident or repair necessarily appears on a history report.

That's why we believe the actual vehicle needs to be evaluated.

Sometimes we'll inspect a vehicle with an accident in its history and be perfectly comfortable with what we see.

Other times, we'll see enough to decide:

This isn't a vehicle we want to put our name behind.

And we walk away.

Should an Accident Affect the Price?

Generally, previous accident history can affect a vehicle's market value, particularly when the damage was significant.

That's something buyers should consider.

If you're comparing two otherwise similar vehicles and one has an accident history while the other doesn't, they may not deserve exactly the same value.

But price alone shouldn't determine the decision either.

A less expensive vehicle isn't a bargain if previous damage was repaired poorly.

On the other hand, a properly repaired vehicle with a documented accident history may sometimes represent good value for the right buyer.

Once again, condition matters.

What Should You Ask?

If you're considering a used vehicle with an accident on its history, don't be afraid to ask questions.

Try to learn:

1. What type of accident or damage occurred?
2. How significant was the damage?
3. Where on the vehicle did it occur?
4. Who performed the repairs, if that information is available?
5. Is there evidence of structural damage?
6. Does the vehicle drive and align properly?
7. Has it been carefully inspected since the repair?

You may not always be able to get every answer.

That's when a thorough inspection becomes particularly valuable.

When Would I Walk Away?

There isn't one rule that applies to every vehicle.

But if I see evidence of significant damage, questionable repairs, unresolved problems, or anything that makes me uncomfortable with the vehicle's safety or long-term reliability, I'm probably not interested.

There are simply too many other vehicles available.

That's an important part of buying used vehicles professionally:

Knowing when to walk away can be just as important as knowing when to buy.

Don't Let One Word Make the Decision

When you see “accident reported” on a vehicle-history report, pay attention to it.

Investigate it.

Ask questions.

Have the vehicle properly evaluated.

But don't automatically assume that one line tells you everything you need to know about the vehicle.

The same principle we've discussed throughout From Ken's Desk applies here:

Look at the whole vehicle.

Consider its history, mileage, maintenance, condition, previous use, repairs, and price together.

That's how we evaluate vehicles at Lebanon Auto Sales.

Because every vehicle has its own story—and before one earns a place on our lot, we want to understand as much of that story as possible.

Our goal isn't simply to sell you a vehicle.

It's to help you make a smarter automotive decision.

About the Author

Ken Ebersole is President of Lebanon Auto Sales and has spent decades in the automotive business buying, selling, and servicing used vehicles. Through From Ken's Desk, he shares practical advice designed to help Central Pennsylvania drivers make smarter automotive decisions.