Body & Repair
Structural rust
Rust on chassis rails, sills or strut towers — versus surface rust which is cosmetic.
Surface rust on a tailgate is annoying; rust on a chassis rail is an eSafety inspection failure and can be uneconomical to repair. Sydney's coastal salt air accelerates rust on imports from QLD/NT that didn't get underbody coating. Always inspect chassis rails from underneath, not just visible body panels.
Related terms
Structural repair
Repair work to the chassis rails, A/B/C pillars, or firewall — a value-destroying finding.
eSafety check (NSW)
The annual safety inspection NSW requires for most vehicles 5+ years old before re-registration.
Paint depth gauge
An electronic tool that measures paint film thickness to detect repaints and filler.
Panel gap
The spacing between adjacent body panels — uneven gaps suggest accident repair.
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.