Buying a used car — is always an important decision, and before making a purchase, you need to carefully check not only the technical condition of the car, but also its appearance. The paintwork (paint) of the car is one of the important aspects, as it not only determines the aesthetic appearance of the car, but can also indicate hidden defects. In this article, we will take a detailed look at how to check the paintwork of a car in order to make the right choice.
What is a paintwork and why is its inspection important?
A car's paint job is a layer of paint that is applied to a car's body to provide it with an aesthetic appearance and protection against corrosion. The paint job also serves a protective function against mechanical damage, such as scratches or dents. However, over time, the coating can lose its functionality and appearance due to various factors, including improper use, poor maintenance, or accidents.
Checking the paintwork is an important part of the used car buying process, as damaged or repaired paintwork can indicate serious problems with the car or that it has been in an accident. In addition, poor-quality paintwork can be associated with dishonest sellers who are trying to hide the real condition of the car.
Steps to check the car's paintwork:
- Viewing in sunlight or good lighting: First of all, it is worth examining the car in natural light, preferably in the sun. The light will help you to detect any defects in the paintwork that may not be visible in artificial light. Defects can be in the form of spots, irregularities, polishing marks or even changes in color.
- Check for chips and cracks: One of the most obvious paint defects is chipping or cracking. These can occur due to impacts, contact with sharp objects, or prolonged use without care. Walk around the entire body and look for any signs of such defects. They can be on the edges of the doors, the hood, the trunk, or in the bumper area.
- Test for unevenness and coating thickness: To check the evenness of the paint, you can use a simple method - run your hand over the body. If you feel a difference in texture or slight irregularities, this may indicate poor-quality coating or repair after an accident. Another option is to use special measuring tools to measure the thickness of the paint. Increased thickness of the paint in individual areas may indicate that the car was restored after an accident or there are hidden defects.
- Checking with a magnet: Experienced inspectors use a magnet to inspect the bodywork. The magnet should not stick to areas where paint with metal components has been applied if the coating has been restored. If the magnet “sticks” to any part of the bodywork, this may mean that filler material was applied to these areas or the paint was applied after the repair.
- View from different angles: It is very important to inspect the body of the car from different angles. The corners and contours of the car can change the reflection of light and reveal any defects in the coating. This will allow you to notice even the smallest scratches or scuffs that may not be visible to the naked eye.
- Check for polishing marks: Polishing the paintwork is standard practice, but excessive polishing can indicate that the car has been “restored” or has been covered up. If you notice polish marks on the bodywork, this could be a sign that the car has suffered significant damage.
- Checking door corners and other difficult areas: Pay special attention to critical areas such as the corners of the doors, hood, trunk, and body seams. These may indicate possible dents or repaired areas after an accident. It is important to pay attention to the evenness and uniformity of the coating in these areas.
What to do if paint defects are found?
If you find defects such as cracks, chips or unevenness during a paint inspection, this does not necessarily mean that the car has a serious problem. However, it is important to find out why it happened. If the car has been in an accident, you should get additional information about the condition of the body and possible repairs.
In case of serious damage or the need to restore the coating, paintwork repair can be expensive, so in this case it is necessary to reconsider the price of the car or even refuse to purchase it.
Conclusion:
Checking the paintwork is an important part of checking the car before buying. The presence of paint defects may indicate that the car needs repair or has been in an accident. Therefore, to make the right choice and avoid problems in the future, do not forget to pay attention to every detail of the car's appearance. If you are not confident in your abilities, you can always contact professionals for a more detailed inspection.
