Paint overspray is the quickest and easiest way to detect the average repair. This is because the average repair does not take the time to remove all the trim or gaskets. This means paint overspray will show on the rubber or plastic trim piece, gasket, seal, etc.

You can also look for an unnatural paint line inside door frames, under the hood and trunk, etc. where an area was masked off for painting. Paint on the rubber hood support blocks is easy to spot.

A total car repaint almost always shows on the windshield and back glass seals, because almost no one is going to the trouble of removing the glass to repaint.

The factory paint job will show no spray in these areas because the far is painted before the glass and trim get installed.

Please note that "hidden repairs" are an issue on both new and used vehicles. Many, many, MANY new vehicles are damaged in transit somehow from the factory - get repaired - and go on the lot as a "new" vehicle. They usually show the same overspray indicators, because the dealer's shop will be doing the repairs at the lowest possible cost - meaning least possible labor - and they won't remove things like trim/glass/seals before painting.

Ken300D