Buying a Rebuilt Status Car / Recommend a Shop for Inspection

[bball2]

Planning on buying a car with a rebuilt status and was wondering if anyone could provide recommendations on a shop for an inspection.

Also any tips / things I should be wary of? Called my insurance company and won't be a problem getting it insured.

Few notes:

- Looks like the car was the middle car in a 3 car fender bender; damage to the front / back. Saw pictures after the crash and looks like it was limited to headlights / fender. Post repair everything looks to be working and I can't tell that it was ever in a crash. Final repair bill was ~$5k so a bit surprised it was given a salvage title.

- Price is about 30-35% lower than the same model cars on kijiji (w/ similar kilometers and features)

I usually drive my cars for 5-7 years so not that concerned about resale value afterwards. I think the discount now will be much greater than the loss I'd take potentially selling in the future.

[Shlade]

I'm pretty sure any licensed facility will do the inspection. But having owned a few rebuilt status cars I know they go through quite a rigourous inspection to get certified to be back on the road

[craigcd]

Was it rebuilt by a reputable shop? Aside from the resale value which isn't a concern based on how long you plan to keep it that would be my second concern. If it was a reputable shop I would be less concerned about the inspection. I did have a friend who recently bought a car out of province that was still in warranty with low KM but was more concerned about the exterior/ body condition before he made the trip to purchase. He paid for the owner to to take it to a body shop and they did detailed inspection on the exterior and body of the car. This might be something to consider.

[e31]

Bumping this thread for 2021 relevance...
Can anyone recommend a shop in the Calgary area to perform a Salvage vehicle inspection? I've called a very long list of businesses from the Vehicle Inspection Facility Search (http://www.transportation.alberta.ca/vis/production/vishome.asp) and am not having much luck.

Some shops are not certified (no journeyman?), some say they don't have the right equipment (aligmnent) and others flat out refuse to do business/are too busy.

I have a vehicle that was written off due to cost of repair (transmission), so no collision damage. Inspecting it should be the same as an OOP.

[03ozwhip]

Bumping this thread for 2021 relevance...
Can anyone recommend a shop in the Calgary area to perform a Salvage vehicle inspection? I've called a very long list of businesses from the Vehicle Inspection Facility Search (http://www.transportation.alberta.ca/vis/production/vishome.asp) and am not having much luck.

Some shops are not certified (no journeyman?), some say they don't have the right equipment (aligmnent) and others flat out refuse to do business/are too busy.

I have a vehicle that was written off due to cost of repair (transmission), so no collision damage. Inspecting it should be the same as an OOP.

I dont understand. How did you get insurance to write off a mechanical failure?

[Team_Mclaren]

Bumping this thread for 2021 relevance...
Can anyone recommend a shop in the Calgary area to perform a Salvage vehicle inspection? I've called a very long list of businesses from the Vehicle Inspection Facility Search (http://www.transportation.alberta.ca/vis/production/vishome.asp) and am not having much luck.

Some shops are not certified (no journeyman?), some say they don't have the right equipment (aligmnent) and others flat out refuse to do business/are too busy.

I have a vehicle that was written off due to cost of repair (transmission), so no collision damage. Inspecting it should be the same as an OOP.


I can give you a contact for salvage inspection if you want, but how did it get written off?

No insurance gives a shit that it needs mech repair. Salvage inspection is no where close to an OOP, it's needs a special license to be able to do them.

[ThePenIsMightier]

Repair due to vandalism, maybe???

[zechs]

Bumping this thread for 2021 relevance...
Can anyone recommend a shop in the Calgary area to perform a Salvage vehicle inspection?

http://calgaryautomarine.com/

Azam can help you with that, give them a call. I don't take vehicles to people very often for work, but when I do, its to CAMS

[bjstare]

I dont understand. How did you get insurance to write off a mechanical failure?

Maybe stolen and transmission fucked up by the thieves? Idk. I’m interested too.

[03ozwhip]

Maybe stolen and transmission fucked up by the thieves? Idk. I’m interested too.

I ask because my motor in the lightning may be fucked and I talked to my insurance and there's nothing they will do, so this is interesting.

[brucebanner]

I ask because my motor in the lightning may be fucked and I talked to my insurance and there's nothing they will do, so this is interesting.

Why is the motor pooched? I'm curious as to why you'd look to go through insurance?

[03ozwhip]

Why is the motor pooched? I'm curious as to why you'd look to go through insurance?

Just because I have heard of insurance doing it before, but have no idea how it would work, but I've been told no. Oil pump went out on me, im pretty sure.

[brucebanner]

That's no fun. The answer is definitely no if you don't ask the question.

[mr2mike]

Repair due to vandalism, maybe???

I've seen a claim like that not too long ago. Claim was vandalism but the car blatantly looked like he did spray paint it himself to keep rust away. Then didn't want the car once rust got so bad.

[AndyL]

The how is easy - usually in tow behind a motorhome or tow truck.

Or it got about a mile down the road from the quicky lube and the transmission grenaded because wrong fluid put in.

But yeah they don't generally cover day to day wear and tear failure.

[Shlade]

Just because I have heard of insurance doing it before, but have no idea how it would work, but I've been told no. Oil pump went out on me, im pretty sure.

Ive actually heard of this as well. Unsure how that works wether there has to be special insurance for modifications etc. But i know of one person that has had their insurance payout after blowing the motor in their car.

[03ozwhip]

Ive actually heard of this as well. Unsure how that works wether there has to be special insurance for modifications etc. But i know of one person that has had their insurance payout after blowing the motor in their car.

Maybe Maskedbandit can chime in and say exactly how this works. I'm sure he told me, but I forget.

[GTR_Auto]

The only time I have seen them covered is due to an accident. Hit oil pan with road debris / manhole cover / rock ect.