9 Ways To Tell If a Car Has Been Repainted + 3 Solutions

how-can-you-tell-if-a-car-has-been-repainted

If you’re in the market for a used car, it’s important to be able to tell if it has been repainted. A repainted car can be hiding all sorts of damage that you might not be able to see with the naked eye.

In this article, I will teach you how to tell if a car has been repainted using some simple techniques. I’ll also talk about what to do if you find out that a car has been repainted. Stay tuned!

Signs to tell if your car has been repainted

There are a few key signs that you can look for to tell if a car has been repainted:

  • Uneven paint job
  • Overlapping paint
  • Paint Depth Gauge Readings
  • Paint drips
  • Visible Table Line
  • Inconsistent Color Shade
  • Paint bubbles
  • Paint cracks
  • Visible tapeline

Let’s explore each one of these factors in a little more detail.

1. Uneven Paint Job

The first sign you should look for is an uneven paint job. This can be tricky to spot if you’re not a trained eye, but it’s something to be on the lookout for. If you see any areas where the paint is thinner or thicker than it should be, that’s a good sign that the car has been repainted.

An original paint job should be even and consistent all over the car. If you see any irregularities, that’s a sign that the car has been repainted.

2. Overlapping Paint

Another sign to look for is overlapping paint. This is when you can see areas where the new paint has been applied over the old paint. This is usually pretty easy to spot, as it will look like two different colors of paint are overlapping.

Usually, this is done to cover up rust or other damage. If you see any areas where the paint is overlapping, it’s a good sign that the car has been repainted.

3. Paint Depth Gauge Readings

Also, If you’re serious about finding out if a car has been repainted, you can use a paint depth gauge. This is a tool that will measure the thickness of the paint on the car.

If the readings are inconsistent, that’s a good sign that the car has been repainted. To read a paint depth gauge, you’ll need to have a basic understanding of how they work. for example, if the entire car reads 30 microns but one side reads 60 microns, then that side of the car has been repainted.

A paint depth gauge is a tool that will give you a more accurate reading of the paint thickness. If you’re not sure how to use one, you can always ask a professional to take a look for you.

4. Paint Drips

Again, look for paint drips. This is when you can see areas where the paint has run or dripped down the car. Mostly, this will happen around the edges of the car, like the hood or doors.

Paint drips are common in repainted cars because the painters are usually in a hurry and don’t have time to do a proper job.

If you don’t see any paint drips, that’s a good sign. But if you do see them, the car has likely been repainted.

5. Visible Table Line

Again, look for a visible table line. This is when you can see the line where the two colors of paint meet. Most original paint jobs will have a very thin line between the colors, but if you see a thick line, that’s a sign that the car has been repainted.

Body shops will most certainly use tape to get a clean line between the colors when they’re painting a car. But sometimes, they don’t do a good job of removing the tape, and that’s how you can tell that the car has been repainted. When the tape is removed, it leaves behind a visible line.

6. Inconsistent Color Shade

Another sign to look for is an inconsistent color shade. This is when the paint job looks patchy or uneven. It’s usually pretty easy to spot, as it will look like two different colors of paint are overlapping. Most of the time, this is because the car has been repainted with a different color.

If you see this, I can boldly confirm the car has been repainted.

7. Paint Bubbles

Furthermore, look for paint bubbles. This is when you can see areas where the paint has bubbled up and is starting to peel off. Paint bubbles are usually caused when air gets trapped under the paint, and they can be pretty easy to spot. Usually, if you see one paint bubble, there are more nearby.

If you see any paint bubbles, that’s a sure sign of a bad paint job and a sign that the car has been repainted. If you see this sign, it’s best to move on if you don’t like a repainted car

8. Uneven Gaps Between Body Panels

Misaligned panels are also a sign that the car has been in an accident and repaired. When a car is in an accident, the panels can get bent out of shape. To fix this, the body shop will need to realign the panels.

After the realigned panels, the car will need to be repainted so that the new paint job will cover up the realigned panels.

9. Paint Cracks

Finally, Paint cracks are also a sign of an accident. When a car is in an accident, the paint can crack from the impact. These cracks will usually be small, but they’re pretty easy to spot.

If you see any of these signs, the car has likely been repainted.

Of course, there are other signs that a car has been repainted, but these are some of the most common ones.

If you’re looking to buy a car, and you think it might have been repainted, be sure to look for these signs. And if you’re still not sure, you can always ask a professional to take a look for you.

What to do if you find out your car has been repainted

If you find out that your car has been repainted, there are a few things you can do:

  • Talk to the seller about it
  • Get a professional inspection
  • Walk away from the deal

Let’s explore each one of these factors in a little more detail.

1. Talk To The Seller About It

The first thing you should do is talk to the seller about it. If they’re being honest with you, they’ll tell you why the car was repainted and how much it cost. They might also be willing to give you a discount on the price of the car.

When I bought my first car a couple of years ago I immediately noticed that it had been repainted. I asked the seller about it and they told me that the car had been in an accident and they had to have it repainted. They were honest with me and I got a great deal on the car.

2. Get a Professional to Inspect

Another option is to get a professional inspection. This is a good idea if you’re not sure about the quality of the paint job. A professional can tell you if the car has been properly repainted and if there are any issues with the paint job.

A good paint job can hide imperfections, but a bad paint job can’t. If you’re not sure about the quality of the paint job, it’s best to get a professional inspection.

3. Walk Away From The Deal

The last option is to walk away from the deal. This is probably the best option if you’re not comfortable with the idea of buying a repainted car. A repainted car can be a gamble, and it’s not worth taking the risk if you’re not comfortable with it.

If you are like me and you don’t mind buying a repainted car, then talk to the seller about it and try to get a discount. But if you’re not comfortable with the idea of buying a repainted car, it’s best to walk away from the deal.

Final Thought

If you’re looking at buying a used car, it’s important to be aware of the signs that the car has been repainted. A repainted car can be hiding all sorts of damage that you might not be able to see with the naked eye. If you see any of these signs, It should be a sign the car has been repainted.

I would also recommend getting a professional inspection if you’re not sure about the quality of the paint job. A good paint job can hide imperfections, but a bad one can’t.

And finally, if you’re not comfortable with the idea of buying a repainted car, it’s best to walk away from the deal. There are plenty of other used cars out there that haven’t been in an accident and don’t have any hidden damage.

Have you ever bought a repainted car? What was your experience?

Gideon Ansah Baffour

Hello, passionate reader My name is GIDEON BAFFOUR ANSAH. There are a lot of things in this world that I love. My family, my friends, dogs, video games, and of course – everything with engines. It has been a passion of mine for as long as I can remember. There is just something about them that makes me happy. I've been blazing up the trails and immersing myself in this wonderful hobby turned career and on this website, I'm excited each day to share everything I've learned and continue to learn a day in day out.

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