Two Camaros Looked Perfect – Why We Said No?
Last edit: January 25 2026 • 82 view
Today I want to share a story about why it is important to choose a car carefully and, most importantly, check its history.
Our customer Jamal was interested in a Camaro and asked us for advice about 2 cars. At first, both cars looked like very good options. Let’s take a closer look and explain why we did not recommend buying either of them.
Jamal is a careful person and followed our guidelines. First, he chose a 2017 Chevrolet Camaro. The seller was State Farm Insurance, which is good. We always recommend insurance companies as sellers. The car had theft damage, no keys, and minor front damage. From the pictures, everything looked fine. It seemed like the car passed the full checklist: good seller, minor damage, and no red flags.
But there is a reason why we always say: check the car history. A quick check through VIN.Doctor showed something unexpected.
Wow, that was a surprise! As you may know, this sometimes happens when the seller is a dealer. Some dealers are not very honest and may sell a lemon car as minor damage. But in this case, the seller was an insurance company. Guys, checking vehicle history is a must. A few dollars for a report saved Jamal from possible problems. The car was in a collision on August 21, 2018. After that, it was repaired, insured, and driven until it ended up at the auction again as a theft recovery vehicle. You might say, “Yes, but it was repaired and passed inspection.”
That is true. In theory, it could be a well-repaired car. But you can never be completely sure. It is much easier to find the same car without a collision in its history.
Do you think this was the only case? Jamal then asked for our opinion about another car, a 2018 Chevrolet Camaro. It had minor right front damage, the seller was an insurance company, and everything seemed okay. But again, we did not recommend buying it. Why?
Three years ago, this car was sold at an auction with flood damage. Yes, it was repaired. But are you sure you want a car with flood damage? It was driven for three years after that, and maybe it was fine. Still, this is something you can easily avoid by checking the vehicle history.
In this case, we again advised Jamal to choose another car, and he did. This time, he carefully checked the car history.
Buying a car at an auction can be a great deal, but you must always check all available info. Here is our advice: even if you do not see any red flags, always check the history. A few dollars can save you from big problems.
And if you ever have doubts or questions, be like Jamal and contact us. We are here to help!
