i HAVE ONE QUESTION.
I AM TRADING IN MY CAR FOR a s2000
Anybody know if I have to tell the car dealership that it was involved in a accident before? I know they will give me less for the trade in. Is it against the law. THIS CAR IS CARFAx certified though.

any comments?

 

If you get caught, it's fraud.

 

s2khondaimport,

If you simply don't disclose an accident to the dealer, then there's no legal problem there. It may not necessarily be ethical, but it's not against the law. If the dealer finds out about the accident down the line, then that's a civil - not legal - matter.

On the other hand, if you neglected to report the accident according to DMV guidelines, then that's illegal. Not sure if it qualifies as fraud or something closely related.

 

i didnt know it was against the law to tell if the car was in an accident. well the dealer can find out anyway by checkin ur vin and it gives the complete list

 

It's not necessary to disclose that your vehicle was involved in an accident. Also, Carfax does not show every incident/accident that occured - usually only when a police report is filed or if the title is salvaged/flood damage. However, if the dealership's appraiser has half a brain they will figure out during the appraisal that the vehicle was involved in an accident by feeling for tape lines from painting, looking at body panel gaps, overspray, misalignments underhood, etc...

 

if the car was involved in an accident or if the car was damaged and had body repair done to it then the dealer will prolly know so don't even bother worrying about it

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by AndyP
It's not necessary to disclose that your vehicle was involved in an accident.

 

It really depends on the amount of damage. By law, in CA DMV regulations states the following:"If you are involved in a vehicle accident that occurred in California, you must report it to DMV if: "There was property damage of more than $750 ($500 for accidents prior to January 1, 2003) or
Anyone was injured (no matter how minor) or
Anyone was killed.
Each driver must make a report to DMV within 10 days, whether you caused the accident or not and even if the accident occurred on private property. Mail the completed report form to the address on the form." You are in IL and an excerpt from the site states similar:

Crash Reports
Regardless of fault, a crash report must be filed by the driver of a vehicle if the crash involves death, bodily injury or property damage over $500. To report a crash:
notify the police. Many towns and cities require a report if a crash occurs within their limits. Therefore, if an officer is not at the scene of the crash, a report must be made at the nearest police station as soon as possible. If in a rural area, the county sheriff or Illinois State Police must be notified. If the driver is unable to make the report and there is a passenger, the passenger must make the report.
a report also must be made to the Illinois Department of Transportation. This confidential report must be sent no later than 10 days after the crash. The form can be obtained from a police officer or automobile insurance agency. You can see for yourself here http://www.cyberdriveillinois.com/publicat...l#crash_reports

If it was under $500. and no one was injured, it does not have to be reported. When waxed and buffed, minor work can be seen by the different texture (Swirl, metallic flakes, and Gloss) and overspray as well as bolts and weldmarks. On S' if body panels are replaced, the lack of VIN on the panels are a sure give away. Usually when you get job done at Body shops and pay for it yourself, no records. The law was put in place to ward of self repairs of suspension and frame parts. They was a time when cars were welded together and under certain situations, the cars would separate due to stresses experienced. The practice of taking front ends and rear ends of cars and welding them on is still practice, it does in no way degregate the original integrity of the car. This is important with the number of Unit Body cars on the road today...

Hope this answers some of your concerns.

 

They will mic the paint and know it has been in an accident. I would not worry about it.