Advice for buying used cars

WHITE MARSH, Md. - If you're shopping for a previously owned car, would you know if it had been in a car wreck?

We parked three cars on The Avenue at White Marsh.  One of them had been in a serious car wreck.  We asked shoppers to pick out the one they thought was in the crash.

Would you know how to tell the difference?  Chris Basso from CARFAX helped us out.

He says you should look down the car and make sure the lines are clean.  If a car is rebuilt, it make not be entirely straight.

Basso says look at the gaps in the hood a trunk.  Newer cars will have symmetrical and even gaps.

Also check for over spray on the inside of the hood.  It's a sign the car was repainted.

Also, look at the bolts and nuts inside the car.  If they don't match, there's a good chance the car had been in a wreck.

Basso says you should also look for a vehicle identification number on the inside of the hood and trunk.  If it doesn't match, you're buying a rebuilt car.

His best advice is to get a CARFAX report before buying a car and take a mechanic along to do look over the car.