Buying a used car can be a scary proposition. Year after year people unknowingly purchase cars that have been involved in major collisions. It’s all too easy for underhanded auto rebuilders to quickly fix up these vehicles and resell them, all too often glossing over important maintenance and safety issues.

In many cases, when a vehicle has been totaled so that the cost to fix it is greater than its value, an insurance company will declare the vehicle a total loss. The owner is typically paid a sum equal to the pre-collision value of the car, and the car may be sold at a salvage auction. In other cases, the owner may be able to keep the totaled vehicle. In either case, there are unscrupulous car owners (whether they purchased the vehicle at auction or are the original owner) who quickly patch up these vehicles and try to turn a profit on them by selling them at full price.

It happens all the time, which is why you need to take the proper precautions when purchasing a vehicle. While we could go over several different scenarios, just take a look at a few examples below.

Check the Title- Since not every salvage vehicle has a notation on the title, you have to look at the wording. If you see things like “scrap,” “parts only,” “unsalvageable,” or “un-rebuildable,” then you have a vehicle that’s been in an accident right in front of you.

You can get a glimpse of this ahead of time by doing a simple online check. You can do this at the National Motor Vehicle Title Information System site. All you have to do is enter a VIN number and the information will pop up for you. Keep in mind this is everything from odometer readings, if it’s been lost or stolen, and if the vehicle was ever considered a complete loss. Just go to nmvtis.gov for more information.

Inspect the Vehicle- This is extremely important, and it shouldn’t be someone you know. Have a person that is certified in collision repair take on this task for you. They’ll be able to give you the telltale signs that could involve a faulty vehicle.

Ask the Seller- If they are truthful, asking the seller could be the easiest option. However, there are times when they just want to sell the vehicle so it could become difficult. Even though this could be helpful, we still recommend researching the vehicle as much as possible.

Get a History Report- One of the best things you can do is getting a history report. The two best places are CarFax and AutoCheck. They will offer up all the dirt on any vehicle out there. Unfortunately, not all problems are reported to the state licensing agencies.

Just make sure you’re as thorough as possible when researching a vehicle. All the tips we’ve given you today should help you get an inside look at the history behind the car you’re interested in buying. In order to keep yourself safe, document all your research and conversations you have along the way. If there are any issues you’ll already be able to present a case if it goes to court.