Road accidents and used cars: August has a record that few notice.

More and more drivers are seeking to understand the history of a used car before purchasing. They opt for digital reports, read them carefully, and think they have everything under control. Unfortunately, the reality is less reassuring. April in Italy is the worst month in terms of reported damages—over €13,000 per vehicle—in a month where sales are accelerating. Accidented vehicles are returning to the market, and scams tend to multiply—an anomaly when considering the number of recorded accidents: according to carVertical data, April records only 7.6% of reported damages, the third-most peaceful month after August (4.9%) and December (6.6%).

The calm of the approaching month is paradoxical, jarring with the collective imagination of endless traffic jams, hasty departures, and scorching highways. According to the study, the months with the highest percentage of damage recorded in Italy are February (10.9%), November (9.8%), and October (9%). Relying solely on documents is walking a tightrope, lacking the support of someone capable of "reading" a car's frame, because shiny sheet metal can obscure a significant impact, invisible to the data but potentially lethal on the road.

April, the trickiest month for buyers

“These spikes are likely linked to commuter traffic, sudden rain showers, and the reduction in daylight hours typical of autumn and winter,” explains Matas Buzelis, automotive expert at carVertical. “In spring, increased mobility and climate change can take drivers by surprise. With rising temperatures, many relax while driving, but busier roads and an overconfidence can translate into more accidents.”

It's difficult to pinpoint a single cause, but some signs always recur. The fourth month of the year coincides with a surge in ownership transfers, often linked to the end of leasing contracts: several company vehicles re-enter the market, many with a troubled past and a fresh bodywork, while spring prompts people to get back on the road, more relaxed, less cautious. An explosive mix of increased traffic, diminished attention, and accidents on the uphill slopes, and at that point, the chain begins, with hastily repaired vehicles camouflaged enough to fool less cautious buyers.

In many cases, the cars have suffered significant damage: according to carVertical, the average estimated value of used cars in Italy is over €6,000, which most likely involves serious structural work, such as airbag replacement, repairs to the chassis, suspension, or electronic systems. Certain models involved in major accidents—premium SUVs, company cars, or fleets at the end of their lease—can hide structural issues worth as much as €10,000 to €15,000, masked by a well-done repaint .

Where the reports stop

The digital reports draw on dozens of databases, including information from insurance companies, repair shops, law enforcement agencies, public agencies, and European archives. In recent years, the European Union has actively promoted data-sharing strategies among member states, facilitating the traceability of imported vehicles. In theory, every incident, accident, or recall should be reported; in practice, coverage remains partial.

A significant group of countries—especially in the East—systematically avoid archiving all claims, or fail to make them accessible. If the vehicle was repaired outside of the insurance network, or passed through dishonest operators, ready to use illegal software or devices to reset control units, erase crash data, or disguise deployed airbags, the information disappears.

A report can reveal a lot, but it can never provide a completely accurate overview. The operators at carVertical also write: the data collected is useful, of course, but stopping there is foolhardy. To better understand the condition of a vehicle, it's worth having a specialist inspect it firsthand. Indeed, only the chassis, raised on a lift, can reveal anomalies that were omitted from the documents.

The essential checks

The report shows the documented history, while the physical assessment highlights anything that's missed in the databases. To determine if a used car has structural problems, targeted physical inspections are essential. These inspections are performed by a qualified workshop, which provides a thorough technical examination of key areas: suspension, electronics, bodywork, chassis, and mechanical components. Structural issues are identified by jacking up the car, opening control units, and examining aspects such as:

• Wheel alignment and alignment: measuring toe, camber, and caster can reveal imbalances attributable to impacts. Road behavior—such as steering that pulls to one side—can also indicate damage to the chassis or structural elements;
• OBD-II ECU reading : all ECUs (not just the engine ECU) are scanned to identify hidden error codes, deactivated airbags, and non-functioning ABS/ESP systems . Some vendors manually clear the errors or use resistors to simulate functioning airbags;
• Paint thickness measurement : using a digital thickness gauge, the values ​​are compared between panels. If a door measures 95 µm and the side 310 µm, it is likely that post-accident intervention (filler, repainting, or replacement) has taken place;
• Underbody and weld analysis: we look for artisanal repairs, non-original joints, corrosion points, bent brackets, or fresh welds. In the event of a structural issue, we often only work on the damaged side;
• Check the suspension , control arms, silent blocks, and engine mounts: the car is raised on a lift and tested by hand. Abnormal play indicates severe impacts or advanced wear;
• Dynamic road test : vibrations, inconsistent steering response, uneven engine response, and unbalanced braking are detected. This helps us understand what the dyno doesn't tell us.

A full inspection lasts between 45 and 60 minutes, during which the vehicle is raised on a lift, inspected from below, road tested, and connected to diagnostic tools. It ranges from mechanical to electronic checks, looking for irregular movements in the control arms and suspension, measuring the paint thickness on the panels, and reading hidden errors in the control units to identify invisible signs of impacts, tampering, and superficial repairs. The cost varies based on the complexity of the inspection and the type of workshop: in qualified facilities, the cost generally ranges from a minimum of 70 to a maximum of 150 euros, a modest sum compared to the risk of purchasing a rigged vehicle.