Body & Repair
Panel gap
The spacing between adjacent body panels — uneven gaps suggest accident repair.
Factory panel gaps are remarkably uniform: 3.5–5.0 mm and parallel along the full length. A gap that's tight at the top and wide at the bottom, or that varies side-to-side, points to a repaired collision. Cross-checking panel gaps with paint readings catches almost every repaired accident.
Related terms
Paint depth gauge
An electronic tool that measures paint film thickness to detect repaints and filler.
Structural repair
Repair work to the chassis rails, A/B/C pillars, or firewall — a value-destroying finding.
Structural rust
Rust on chassis rails, sills or strut towers — versus surface rust which is cosmetic.
Need a real inspection, not just a definition?
Aussie Auto Care does mobile pre-purchase inspections and EV battery health checks across Greater Sydney — 7 days.