Help Buying A Restored "Repairable Write Off" From Used Car Dealer

[Benboy]

Don't overlook the fact that it may be a 're-birth'. Components of stolen vehicles (especially those written off) put together and vehicle sold as though legal. Can be extremely difficult to spot. Even many Police Depts. sometimes can't pick them. Be carefull.

 

[Reaper]

I'd think very long and hard before I bought that car.

Reaper

 

[cewing]

I wouldnt buy a 2nd hand car from parramatta road period. especially one which has a mysterious history. Before i got my berlina i owned a repairable writeoff, but i did the writing off, so i knew excactly what was damaged, so the insurance company could insure it accordingly.
I dont know how insurance works on repairable writeoff's, but i wouldnt buy it unless it had a comprensive engineering/structural report

 

[bezz]

If the car is repaired properly I can't see a problem with it. You'd be suprised how many used cars you find in car yards are repaired cars from auctions- doesn't mean they're going to fall apart in a heap. I've owned repaired cars before and have had absolutely no problems with them.

Oh and lol at the guy who thinks insurance companies won't touch you because the car has been repaired... if its declared roadworthy its just the same as insuring any other car.

 

[UFO]

your profile doesnt say where you are located, which makes advice hard to give- different states, different rules etc.

might be idea to use this service from RTA https://ols2.rta.nsw.gov.au/VehicleHistoryCheck/

Personally I wouldnt touch a car that has been written off and then repaired, but IF you are still keen doing the relevent checks on the VIN and engine numbers to ensure you are still able to actually register it would be a good idea.

Again, depending on which state you are in, you are certain rights as a consumer when buying a car from a dealer. Make sure if you do intend to purchase, you dont sign those rights away in the event you have trouble registering. But I wouldnt touch it... no way, even if 'good value'. If it was so good, why isnt the dealer arranging repairs and then onselling.

 

[0081]

I just dont see why people are so worried about a car that has been damaged, have you not seen the amount of cars in the body shops all around the place. would you buy one of them? but how would you tell
Will you only ever buy a new car so you know 100% its never been damaged (still then you hear stories) or do you know the compleate history about the car your driving now, do you know if it has been in a accident???

where do you draw the line as to the amount of damage done to a car that you class it as unsafe?

If it has been damaged in a way that makes it unsafe then its classed as a statuary write off.

As it has been said if it has been repaired in the correct way then there should be no problem at all

 

[VesperZ]

I just dont see why people are so worried about a car that has been damaged, have you not seen the amount of cars in the body shops all around the place. would you buy one of them? but how would you tell
Will you only ever buy a new car so you know 100% its never been damaged (still then you hear stories) or do you know the compleate history about the car your driving now, do you know if it has been in a accident???

where do you draw the line as to the amount of damage done to a car that you class it as unsafe?

If it has been damaged in a way that makes it unsafe then its classed as a statuary write off.

As it has been said if it has been repaired in the correct way then there should be no problem at all

Judging by what you have just said I would just like to add that a car is never the same once it has been in an accident. In saying that, that doesn't apply to all accidents. To determine whether a car has been in an accident is quite simple. Most commonly by checking whether the paint looks newer to other parts of the car, and if you can't tell by that you can then most certainly determine by checking the thickness of the paint through-out the whole car. It is very hard to fail that test unless the whole car has been resprayed. Hope that answers your question.