Gap Between Car Panels Can Reveal Used Vehicle History
JAKARTA – When purchasing used vehicles, many people attempt to assess a car’s condition from its external appearance. One aspect frequently examined is the gap between body panels.
Asymmetrical gaps are often suspected as a sign that the vehicle has previously been in a collision. The question then arises: can panel gap differences genuinely serve as an indicator of accident history?
“It can, but based on our experience, panel gap differences are usually caused by only minor impacts,” said Hakim to Kompas.com recently.
“What we frequently find is that the gap between the right fender panel and right front bumper differs from the left side. This typically occurs because there was previously repair work in that area due to an impact, and when reinstalled, the result was not properly aligned,” he explained.
According to Hakim, it is important for prospective buyers to understand that not all previous collisions result in the same level of damage.
“In conclusion, based on my experience and my team’s observations, collision types can be divided into three categories,” he stated.
“First, light collision. Its characteristics include repainting and putty work within reasonable limits, typically limited to the outer panel and still within the panel sealer area.”
In this condition, damage generally only affects the outer body parts. The vehicle’s main structural frame usually remains intact.
“Second, moderate collision. This is marked by thicker repainting and putty work, extending beyond the sealer and even into interior panel sections,” Hakim noted.
“Third, severe collision or major accident. Its characteristics include bent reinforcement, history of bullhead replacement, and previous airbag deployment,” Hakim said.
“To assess severe collision damage, thorough examination and a diagnostic scanner are required to read SRS module data (airbag system) to determine whether there has been any history of deployment,” he added.
Uneven panel gaps should serve as a warning signal to conduct further inspection rather than immediately concluding the vehicle is severely damaged.
“Because if assessments are carried out carelessly, parties could be wronged,” Hakim cautioned.