What photos can tell you about a car's past?

Every car has a story. Sometimes those stories are told with wit and remind us of the good old days, others… Well, their owners may wish to forget them. Lots of things can happen to a car throughout its lifespan. When you’re hunting for a new ride, untold stories are important, as they determine the future.

We work hard to bring these car stories to light, and one of the easiest ways to do so is by looking at photos of the car’s past. So, what can they tell you, and what signs suggest the vehicle may not be worth the bargain? More importantly, how do you find these photos?

Why are photos important when looking for a new ride?

When you search for a used car in classifieds ad portals, you’ll see hundreds of listings. Car photos are the quickest way to see the condition of the interior and exterior, which will help you filter out the cars you’re not interested in.

With that said, while photos give you an immediate understanding of the car’s condition, they shouldn't be trusted blindly. If a vehicle has suffered severe damage and was repaired by a skilled mechanic, it may be hard to understand this from a few photos.

That’s where carVertical comes in.

When evaluating the vehicle’s condition, it can be useful to see not only what the car looks like now, but also what it looked like in the past. Who knows what secrets you may find!

Photos in a carVertical history report can reveal the actual condition of the vehicle

While not every history report contains photos (as they’re not always available), some can offer truly insightful images.

A lot of cars are damaged in one country, cheaply fixed, then imported to another and sold as new. This can result in eye-watering repair bills for the new owner. If the vehicle has been in a serious accident, it’s not only less valuable, but also less safe.

The Photos section in a history report can give you an idea of the damages the car has suffered (which you may also be able to explore further in the Damages section). If the seller tries to hide past damages, it’s best to walk away from such a deal – even if you don’t mind the damages, the car can have other dirty secrets.

What else can exterior photos tell you about a car?

Whether you’re looking at current or past photos of a car’s exterior (and even if there are no obvious damages), they can give you lots of useful information.

If the photos are taken at night, in a dim light, or in the rain, this should raise your suspicion. Yes, maybe the owner simply didn’t think that good-quality photos actually matter and they had no bad intentions. However, some shady sellers photograph cars in poor visibility, so buyers can’t evaluate their true condition. Later on, they may only agree to meet in the dark or in an underground garage, making it harder to notice signs of previous damage.

Here’s what you should look for in the exterior photos:

• Paintwork consistency. Look for mismatched paint tones, which can indicate repairs. A repainted area may appear glossier or duller compared to the factory finish. This inconsistency often occurs when the repair shop doesn’t use the same quality of paint or fails to match the original finish.
• Panel gaps. Uneven gaps can suggest accidents or poor-quality repairs. Sometimes cars are repaired using cheap third-party panels that can’t fit the same as factory panels. For this reason, the gaps may be uneven, so ensure to examine the gaps around the doors, hood, and trunk and look for any inconsistencies.
• Rust spots. Focus on wheel arches, door sills, and the undercarriage. Over time, rust only worsens, so if you decide to buy a rusty car, you’ll have to address this problem sooner or later. Also, don’t forget that rust may appear after an accident, and it's one of the first signs that the car may not be in the best condition.
• Visible damage. Sometimes scratches, dents, and structural damage can be easily spotted in photos, suggesting that the car may have been involved in a minor or major accident. If it’s a small scratch, you can use this as a bargaining chip to get a lower price.

Examine the vehicle interior to learn what the car has been through

Worn seats, steering wheel, and pedals may suggest the car has a high mileage. If the mileage given in the ad is low, this may be a sign of an altered odometer. Checking the Mileage section in a history report can help you determine if the mileage is genuine.

Ironically, a well-preserved interior doesn’t necessarily mean the car is in good condition. Sometimes, sellers renew the interior so they can convince the buyer that the vehicle is in top-notch condition – yet another reason to look for old photos.

Finally, while interior photos may not reveal any grand conspiracy against you as a buyer, they do tell you a lot about its previous owners and how much they cared about the car you’re about to buy.

Why photos alone aren’t enough

Photos only tell you about visible issues, but not all issues can be seen. That’s why, once you’ve made a shortlist of cars you’re interested in, you should get their vehicle history reports. Have 1 or 2 specific cars in mind? Take them to a mechanic.

carVertical’s vehicle history reports reveal not only photos but also a lot of other valuable information for buyers: damages and their estimated value, odometer rollbacks, theft records, technical specifications, ownership changes, and more.

The more you know about the car, the more informed decisions you can make. Defects often appear only after several months, leaving the new owner in an unfavorable position.

Even after checking the car’s history and performing a test drive, some issues only a mechanic will find after hooking up diagnostic tools and examining the car’s insides.