How To Tell If A Used Car Has Been Painted

Paint work can be easily spotted it you know what you're looking for. The first and most obvious way is to inspect the exterior of the vehicle while paying close attention to the way the paint looks. When you look at the panels of the vehicle, you need to look at them from an angle...not straight on.

What you're looking for is what's called "Orange Peal." Orange peal is just what it sounds like. If the surface of the panel that you're looking at resembles that of an orange, chances are it's had paint work. I might add that you should view the vehicle from several different angles and in different light. What you see in sunlight will look different in the shade. Or in a garage versus outside so make sure you cover all the bases.

The next place to look is on the molding of the vehicle. Carefully inspect the moldings for over spray.When a vehicle is painted from minor damage, in most cases the moldings are left on the vehicle which means there is a good chance of over spray being left on the molding.

Another dead give away is to open all the doors and look for over spray in the door jams. Also while you have the doors open look at the black rubber moldings that seal the door. Over spray is easy to spot on the black moldings. When looking in the door jams, pay close attention to the factory vehicle I.D. plate. Unless the painter is extremely detailed in taping the door, over spray will be evident inside the door jam.

The next place you can find over spray is on the glass of the vehicle. Carefully inspect all the glass on the vehicle paying close attention around the outside edges of the glass. If the hood of the vehicle has paint work, many times the windshield will show signs of over spray. While your looking at the glass, inspect the headlights and the tail lights of the vehicle for any sign of over spray.

Another place to look is the deck lid (the trunk) of the vehicle. Open the deck lid and carefully inspect the rubber moldings. Over spray will be quite obvious if it's on the moldings. Also look in the "jam" of the deck lid. If the vehicle has been painted back there it will be pretty obvious by looking in the jam.

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