How can you tell if a car you intend to buy has had panel beating?

There are a lot of traps when buying a second hand car. Many people will be aware of 'rebirthing' which is when a car is made up of stolen or illegal car parts, taken from other sources. It is sadly very common that a car will be bought having suffered major accident damage and its Vehicle Identity Number or VIN will then be used for a car that is a collection of illegal parts. Often these cars can superficially look very convincing. Beyond this is the fact that many second hand cars have had panel beating done on them, and in some cases this can compromise the structural integrity of the car and change its handling characteristics.

What is panel beating?

Panel beating is a technique whereby the body work of a car is 'pushed' back into its proper position after some kind of impact. These days a variety of tools are used to achieve this including some that use hydraulics to force metal back into place, although as the name suggests often it is a case of hammering the metal against a solid backing of some kind until it is back in shape. Resins and fillers are also often used. For more extreme damage the actual chassis can sometimes be warped and this requires very heavy duty equipment to fix. The important detail is that when metal is bent it weakens, so any kind of panel beating will weaken the metal. This is not an issue so much for exterior panels but it can be an issue if the actual chassis has been bent back into shape.

How to spot panel beating

A car that has had major remedial panel beating after an accident may have several tell tale signs depending on how serious the repair operation has been.
Signs to look out for include:

• If you look down the side of the car at the level of the bodywork's surface you may notice irregularities
• The car may appear to look slightly uneven
• When you drive it, it may have a 'juddering' effect when turning
• This may be because the actual chassis is slightly warped
• Body work may feel uneven

Close inspection of the interior may reveal a non original part such as a door, which is different to the others in its internal colouring or appearance
If you are in any doubt, it is best to get an expert to take a look.

Why is panel beating important?

Put simple it is important to know if your car has been repaired after an accident because it may affect its safety and longevity. A car which has had major structural damage will never drive quite the same again and may in fact be unsafe. Anything that affects structural integrity can also be a safety issue. Metal is weakened when it is bent so the overall integrity of your car may be compromised. If you have any doubts it is best to get a licensed vehicle tester (eg www.racv.com.au ) to take a look.