Scotty Kilmer urges drivers to check used cars with magnets to see if it's been 'wrecked'

With more motorists turning to the used market for their next vehicle, the well-known mechanic Scotty Kilmer has shared a useful way to find hidden damage.

10:09, Mon, Jun 3, 2024 | UPDATED: 10:18, Mon, Jun 3, 2024

Scotty Kilmer checks a used car for panel damage

In the video, Scotty shows viewers how they can check for panel damage with a magnet (Image: YouTube @scottykilmer)

One of YouTube's most viewed motoring experts has shared a couple of ways that drivers can be sure that they are buying an honest used car.

Scotty Kilmer has worked as a mechanic for more than 50 years and regularly makes YouTube videos in which he gives advice to other drivers on how to save money and learn more about their car.

In a recent video, Scotty suggests that drivers can often find out if a used car they are interested in has been previously damaged by checking it with a magnet.

He advised: "Today I'm going to show you how you can tell if a car has been in a wreck because it's not always as obvious as this [panel damage].

"Now, people often do bad bodywork with Bondo [self-adhesive filler], but Bondo isn't magnetic. So, if you stick on a magnet and, instead of sticking on like this, it just falls off, you know it's been wrecked."

Close up of a sizeable dent on door of a white car

Self-adhesive fillers are used to fill in dents and can be found by checking the body with a magnet (Image: Getty)

One of the most common ways to repair panel damage such as dents is by applying a self-adhesive filler into the gap in the bodywork and spraying over it.

Whilst this can help drivers improve the look of their car, some scammers use it to quickly cover up any damage so potential buyers are unaware of any issues with the vehicle.

However, since the adhesive is not magnetic, buyers can check for any damage by gently attaching a magnet to the bodywork, seeing if there are any patches where it will not stick to the bodywork.

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Close up of a gap between panels on a red vehicle

Another good way to tell if a vehicle has previously been damaged is by comparing gaps in panels (Image: Getty)

Later in the video, Scotty suggested that drivers should also pay attention to the gaps between panels, noting that inconsistencies are also a sign that the vehicle was previously damaged.

He continued: "Another one is checking body gaps. Look at the gap here, the car key fits right in here. Then, check the other side of the trunk [boot].

"In this case, the key doesn't get anywhere near the size of the hole, so we know it's been smashed."

In the video, Scotty uses a car key to roughly measure the gaps on either side of a vehicle's boot lid, noting that it was much larger on one side than the other.

Inconsistent gaps are a common sight on vehicles with replacement parts since, in many cases, it is difficult to align panels to their original standard.

Not only could this be a sign that a vehicle may have been involved in an accident, but larger panel gaps can also let in water, which could cause rust over time.