Buying a Used Car? Here’s What We Recommend
Rob Auernig • September 29, 2025
Car Buying Tips to Help You Avoid Costly Mistakes
Our Customers are always welcome to bring a potential new-to-them used car by Auernig Auto Body for a courtesy pre-purchase inspection.
However, what if that’s not feasible? A Vehicle History Report could be helpful, but we often find incomplete or inaccurate information on those. Just because a dealer shows you a “clean” report, doesn’t mean the car has never been repaired. And even if it has been repaired, a properly and professionally repaired vehicle can still be a very good vehicle to buy.
Here are a few things to look for that may help you from making a costly mistake.
First thing is a cursory review of the overall condition. Does it look like a car that’s been well cared for?
Or… is it one that’s been recently detailed to look like it was well cared for??? Looking into the nooks and crannies for years-old dirt and debris could be very telling.
Next, take a look at the exterior of the car from a distance and from various angles.
Does the paint match to the adjacent panels? Or is it like the picture where one panel is just slightly different from the next? Is the color consistent throughout? (It’s important to know that often times, the bumpers are a poor match to their mating panels, even right from the factory. A mismatch there may not be indicative of anything, but worth noting). Is the texture of the paint consistent throughout? Paint will often have a texture to it, similar to an orange peel in some cases. Higher end cars usually exhibit less texture than others. Either way, the finish should be consistent. If not, there may have been previous repairs. One option is to purchase a fairly inexpensive mil gauge. Excessive paint thickness may also indicate previous repairs.
An Inexpensive Thickness Gauge may be less than $20 and can save you thousands of dollars. Standard paint thickness should be in the 3-7 mils range. Typically, a bit thicker paint on the horizontal surfaces as compared to the vertical, but the measurements should be fairly consistent throughout the vehicle (note that the gauge will only work on the metal panels). It’s not unusual for (especially front) bumpers to be repainted right before being sold. Take a close look at the grill area and fog lights for indications of repaint, such as overspray, painted-over-chips and inconsistent texture.
If that all looks good, then open all of the doors, hood and deck lid. Are the door jambs the same color as the exterior? If not… Run! (A complete exterior repaint is not something that should be purchased without clear support of what that paint is hiding and some indication of likely longevity of the refinish work.) Look in the jambs to see if there is any overspray, or masked paint edges like int the picture.
If the car looks good so far, take a look at the hardware that attaches the opening panels, fenders and bumpers if visible. Do the bolts look untouched or are there wrench marks on them? Disturbed bolts could be as innocent as a minor adjustment made before the dealer sold it as a new car or may be an indication to look more closely at that area of the car. For example, if the fender bolts show evidence of having a wrench applied, look for areas in the engine compartment that indicate a previous collision. Look for things like cracked paint, rust, overspray, missing hardware, bent structure or anything out of the ordinary.
If after the inspection, you still feel like it’s a worthy vehicle, then a test drive is in order. Excessive squeaks and rattles may be an indication of concern. Does the car travel straight without pulling to one side or the other? Does it stop in a straight line when heavily applying the brakes? Is the steering responsive?
Anything that you find out of the ordinary that doesn’t scare you away from the car could be an opportunity to negotiate the price in your favor.
Auernig Auto Body is always happy to provide a pre-purchase inspection free of charge. Just give us a call!
If after all of this, you still feel like it’s a car that you want to buy, a pre-purchase inspection of the drivetrain by a trusted mechanic is ALWAYS a good idea.
I hope you find this helpful!
Drive safely,
Rob
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So, what has changed? Why is it increasingly difficult to make a claim? The California Department of Insurance (DOI) has promulgated regulations that the insurance companies MUST follow regarding claims handling practices. However, the DOI has almost no real authority to require the insurance companies to do anything. Therefore, insurance companies claim departments have learned that they can run roughshod over consumers, and there will be virtually no accountability thrust upon them. Furthermore, the regulations generally relate to the selling of insurance, and what is required of them after a claim is made. Very few regulations address the claims-making process other than timeframes that must be met by insurers. (Those often get trampled as well). Therefore, the claims-making process varies greatly from company to company. Add to that, cutbacks to personnel make even getting ahold of a claims representative sometimes challenging. And, when you do, you’re likely to find that the knowledge and professionalism of the personnel is greatly reduced from years past. Many insurance companies are now requesting that you send them photos so that they can “efficiently” initiate an estimate. That process in itself, can seem cumbersome (possibly by design…). Often, the result is an estimate for far lower than you could possibly get your vehicle repaired, which is yet another violation of regulations, but they do it anyway. Of course, they’ll explain that there may be “other damage” and that they’ll revisit it then. Often, their initial estimate is so low and below your deductible that it absolves them of any commitment at this time, or for a claimant, they hope that that miniscule amount is spent, and actual repairs are never pursued. Either way, the insurance company has set themselves up in manner that may greatly benefit them at the expense of the already financially injured party. DON’T LET THAT HAPPEN! If you’re the insured, you’ve already paid for your repairs (other than your chosen deductible amount). That’s what your premiums are. Don’t let them finagle you into paying twice! If you’re a claimant, then you deserve to be made whole. Don’t let them off the hook because they’ve made it intentionally difficult! In either case, we are here to help you through the process. At Auernig Auto Body, we realize that you are already in an undesirable position. Let’s face it, nobody wants to have to take their car into a body shop. We will do everything that we can to minimize your frustration and help you through this process while attempting to hold the insurance company accountable. (an ever-increasingly difficult task…) 😊 The old days of trusting your insurance company are over! Likely, best-case scenario is that you have two advocates in your corner… Hopefully, you are fortunate to have a good insurance agent. A good agent will get involved in the claims process, if need be, or at least help you to navigate its pitfalls. Your other advocate is Auernig Auto Body. We are one of the few shops left that choose to work for you, rather than the insurance companies. We will always put your interests ahead of those of the insurance company. I hope you find this helpful! Drive safely, Rob
September 2025 Blog
