# Is it ok to buy frame damaged repaired car or not? **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Tags:** nissan, altima\ **Created:** [April 21, 2018, 5:47pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/is-it-ok-to-buy-frame-damaged-repaired-car-or-not/116044 "2018-04-21T17:47:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Samrugen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bcef8e/32.png) [@Samrugen](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Samrugen)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2018, 5:47pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/is-it-ok-to-buy-frame-damaged-repaired-car-or-not/116044/1 "2018-04-21T17:47:22Z")
I am going to buy the following car. So Requestong for price recommendation: Nissan Altima 2.5s 2012 model title Clean Mileage 50K 1 moderate accident Auto auction as frame damage ---
**Author:** ![jtsanders](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c2a13f/32.png) [@jtsanders](https://community.cartalk.com/u/jtsanders)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2018, 5:52pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/is-it-ok-to-buy-frame-damaged-repaired-car-or-not/116044/2 "2018-04-21T17:52:56Z")
Don’t buy it unless you know exactly what you are doing. If you are asking us, you aren’t knowledeable enough to buy this car. The price is the least of your worries. How badly is the frame bent? Was it repaired? Can it be repaired? Does it drive straight or does it crab down the road? If you can’t answer any of these questions, you should find another car to buy. ---
**Author:** ![Samrugen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bcef8e/32.png) [@Samrugen](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Samrugen)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2018, 5:56pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/is-it-ok-to-buy-frame-damaged-repaired-car-or-not/116044/3 "2018-04-21T17:56:48Z")
Someone is trying to sell this car to me. He has been driving this car from last 3 years and frame damage was happened before he bought this car. Now car runs good. ---
**Author:** ![Samrugen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bcef8e/32.png) [@Samrugen](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Samrugen)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2018, 6:05pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/is-it-ok-to-buy-frame-damaged-repaired-car-or-not/116044/4 "2018-04-21T18:05:46Z")
Someone is trying to sell this car to me. He has been driving this car from last 3 years and frame damage was happened before he bought this car. Now car runs good. ---
**Author:** ![VOLVO-V70](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/8e8cbc/32.png) [@VOLVO-V70](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VOLVO-V70)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2018, 6:30pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/is-it-ok-to-buy-frame-damaged-repaired-car-or-not/116044/5 "2018-04-21T18:30:27Z")
There are so many used vehicles on the market I think you should pass on this one. It may have a salvage title and that may nor allow full coverage insurance. ---
**Author:** ![Samrugen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bcef8e/32.png) [@Samrugen](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Samrugen)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2018, 6:37pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/is-it-ok-to-buy-frame-damaged-repaired-car-or-not/116044/6 "2018-04-21T18:37:52Z")
title is clean ---
**Author:** ![Mustangman](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/mustangman/32/44130_2.png) [@Mustangman](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Mustangman)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2018, 7:09pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/is-it-ok-to-buy-frame-damaged-repaired-car-or-not/116044/8 "2018-04-21T19:09:57Z")
Since we don’t know where you live or the condition of the car, you need to search the web for what the car might be worth. Find a car-buying site for where you live and check the value. Also look at cars for sale similar to this one. If he’s not selling this car for at least 20% less than a comparable car, I’d pass on this car. ---
**Author:** ![Tester](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/tester/32/15976_2.png) [@Tester](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Tester)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2018, 7:13pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/is-it-ok-to-buy-frame-damaged-repaired-car-or-not/116044/9 "2018-04-21T19:13:14Z")
The 2012 Altima doesn’t have a frame. It’s uni-body construction. It’s harder to straighten a uni-body vehicle that’s been in an accident, than to straighten a vehicle with a frame. Tester ---
**Author:** ![Whitey](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/whitey/32/24680_2.png) [@Whitey](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Whitey)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2018, 7:17pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/is-it-ok-to-buy-frame-damaged-repaired-car-or-not/116044/10 "2018-04-21T19:17:02Z")
> [@Tester](#): > > The 2012 Altima doesn’t have a frame. It’s uni-body construction. Doesn’t that mean the body is a frame component? Is it really accurate to say it doesn’t have a frame? ---
**Author:** ![Tester](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/tester/32/15976_2.png) [@Tester](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Tester)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2018, 7:21pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/is-it-ok-to-buy-frame-damaged-repaired-car-or-not/116044/11 "2018-04-21T19:21:26Z")
What I’m saying is the vehicle doesn’t have one of these. ![](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/original/2X/d/d8d569230f53118340679e2ffb543d826f7d6ad3.jpg) Tester ---
**Author:** ![db4690](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/db4690/32/2583_2.png) [@db4690](https://community.cartalk.com/u/db4690)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2018, 8:04pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/is-it-ok-to-buy-frame-damaged-repaired-car-or-not/116044/12 "2018-04-21T20:04:42Z")
I’m hearing all sorts of warning bells going off WHY would the title be clean . . . after a massive accident, insurance is typically notified, and it probably should have been totaled, is my guess WHY is he trying to sell you the car . . . might be trying to hand his troubles off to the next guy If it was at the auto auction, that does NOT bode well, especially if the car’s damaged. That means it probably wasn’t deemed worthy of a proper repair. If it was worthy of a proper repair, it would already have happened. Somebody probably already decided they couldn’t perform a proper repair and resell it for a fair profit. That’s why it wound up at the auction Don’t get me wrong . . . good cars do wind up at auctions, but it’s also a dumping ground This person that’s trying to sell you the car . . . a friend, relative, colleague? Tell that person you’re not interested Keep looking for a clean car that does NOT have frame damage By the way . . . it would have been a good idea to post some pictures of the car, lots of pictures, actually ---
**Author:** ![jtsanders](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c2a13f/32.png) [@jtsanders](https://community.cartalk.com/u/jtsanders)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2018, 9:06pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/is-it-ok-to-buy-frame-damaged-repaired-car-or-not/116044/13 "2018-04-21T21:06:53Z")
It’s not a salvage title? You said it was an auction car, and auction cars are as is without an opportunity to do much more than hear the engine run. If the price is excellent, do as @Whitey suggests and have the frame checked at a good body shop. If it checks out, maybe you should buy it. ---
**Author:** ![Tester](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/tester/32/15976_2.png) [@Tester](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Tester)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2018, 9:16pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/is-it-ok-to-buy-frame-damaged-repaired-car-or-not/116044/14 "2018-04-21T21:16:54Z")
> [@jtsanders](#): > > have the frame checked at a good body shop. You do realize that you can’t take a vehicle being sold at auction to be inspected? Either you buy it, or you don’t. Tester ---
**Author:** ![Whitey](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/whitey/32/24680_2.png) [@Whitey](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Whitey)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2018, 9:29pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/is-it-ok-to-buy-frame-damaged-repaired-car-or-not/116044/15 "2018-04-21T21:29:57Z")
> [@db4690](#): > > WHY would the title be clean . . . after a massive accident You don’t have to have a major accident to have a bent frame these days. With crumple zones, even a minor accident will likely lead to a bent frame. ---
**Author:** ![Whitey](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/whitey/32/24680_2.png) [@Whitey](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Whitey)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2018, 9:33pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/is-it-ok-to-buy-frame-damaged-repaired-car-or-not/116044/16 "2018-04-21T21:33:24Z")
> [@Tester](#): > > You do realize that you can’t take a vehicle being sold at auction to be inspected? > > Either you buy it, or you don’t. I think the OP is saying the current owner bought it at auction. Now the current owner is trying to sell the OP the car that the current owner bought at auction. ---
**Author:** ![ok4450](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/e9bcb4/32.png) [@ok4450](https://community.cartalk.com/u/ok4450)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2018, 9:34pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/is-it-ok-to-buy-frame-damaged-repaired-car-or-not/116044/17 "2018-04-21T21:34:35Z")
If it’s cheap enough; maybe. How’s that for being definitive… It probably has a clean title as the accident happened 3 years ago with damage described as moderate on a near new car. One third of retail at best. Maybe, depending upon an inspection. ---
**Author:** ![boilerengtn](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/boilerengtn/32/6955_2.png) [@boilerengtn](https://community.cartalk.com/u/boilerengtn)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2018, 9:35pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/is-it-ok-to-buy-frame-damaged-repaired-car-or-not/116044/18 "2018-04-21T21:35:13Z")
This is a good way to lose a friend. Pass on it. ---
**Author:** ![texases](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/texases/32/862_2.png) [@texases](https://community.cartalk.com/u/texases)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2018, 10:38pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/is-it-ok-to-buy-frame-damaged-repaired-car-or-not/116044/19 "2018-04-21T22:38:02Z")
Yes it’s accurate to say the body doesn’t have a frame. That’s why they’re called unibody cars. ---
**Author:** ![the\_same\_mountainbike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@the\_same\_mountainbike](https://community.cartalk.com/u/the_same_mountainbike)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2018, 11:30pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/is-it-ok-to-buy-frame-damaged-repaired-car-or-not/116044/20 "2018-04-21T23:30:04Z")
There are way too many unknowns here, and the only way to determine if the unibody is straight again is to put it on a frame alignment machine… a costly process unlikely to be available for an auction car. I’d have two concerns that would definitely turn me away from this risk. One is that unibody cars that have been salvaged after a damaged “frame” (the unibody IS the frame) are unlike to be to the tolerance manufactured ever again. The second is that once a body’s crush zone is deformed in an accident, even if it gets straightened out again it’s lost strength and cannot absorb another accident as well as it would were it still accident-free. I wouldn’t do it. ---
**Author:** ![db4690](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/db4690/32/2583_2.png) [@db4690](https://community.cartalk.com/u/db4690)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2018, 12:25am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/is-it-ok-to-buy-frame-damaged-repaired-car-or-not/116044/21 "2018-04-22T00:25:34Z")
OP said that his friend has had the car for 3 years, and that it somehow still has a clean title I’m supposing his friend bought it at the auction . . . ? Yeah, I wouldn’t buy it, either [Next page](https://community.cartalk.com/t/is-it-ok-to-buy-frame-damaged-repaired-car-or-not/116044.md?page=2)