Vehicle History Tips and Advice
Purchasing a used car is a big decision. All sorts of problems can
arise from seemingly nowhere. But at the same time, a used car is an
excellent chance to save money and get a vehicle at a great value.
So how can you be sure you're putting your money towards the right
car? There are many steps to take, such as doing a thorough
inspection and test drive, having the vehicle inspected by a
certified mechanic, and checking the vehicle history report. The
price you pay for a history report is worth every penny, as it could
mean the difference in a great value and a vehicle that is full of
problems. By using the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN), you can
see if the car has been reported to be wrecked or stolen. You can
also find out if there was any reported flood damage or if there are
any recalls on it. Reviewing vehicle history reports can even reveal
odometer fraud.
Where does the information come from?
All this information is stored in a database using the VIN number.
Vehicle history reports are overviews of a vehicle's history. VIN
numbers hold registration records, which will describe how the car
was utilized in the past, such as in a fleet, the police force or as
a taxi. A vehicle history report can show you if the vehicle was
rebuilt or if the car was salvaged. As a consumer, one of the worst
things that can happen to you is for you to discover you've wasted
thousands of dollars on a vehicle that is full of nothing but
trouble. Vehicle history reports are powerful tools that could help
you greatly minimize that risk. At one time there was no way to check a vehicle's history. Buyers
could only go on the evidence in front of them, basing their
decision on the mechanical condition of the car. But computer
technology has made it possible to use the Vehicle Identification
Number (VIN) to reveal a car's possibly checkered past.
A Likely Used Car Scenario
Vehicle history reports are overviews of a vehicle's history. A
vehicle history report can show you if the vehicle was rebuilt or if
the car was salvaged. Vehicle history reports are powerful tools
that could help you greatly minimize that risk. You're shopping for
a used car when you think you've hit pay dirt. When you question the
owner about the car's history, he says he bought it from a used car
lot only two years ago. Maybe something's wrong with the car that
they are keeping hidden. Who owned the car before? Vehicle history
reports can be ordered from a number of Internet companies. The
first company to offer this service is Carfax, which, as the name
suggests, began faxing used car reports as early as 1986. Users can
also get a free Carfax Safety Reliability Report that includes key
make and model level information when ordering the unlimited Carfax
report option.
A Look at a History Report
Vehicle History reports will cost around 5 dollars for a single
report, or $35 for ten reports, and $40 for an unlimited number of
reports for one month. Vehicle history information is drawn from the
monster database. If you order a report from Carfax, your report is
broken into nine categories: report summary, vehicle specifications,
accident check, mileage accuracy check, lemon check, ownership
check, recall check, warranty check and vehicle history details.
Most importantly, Carfax provides an independent check of a
vehicle's history. While the odometer of a used car might show that
it has only 55,000 miles, the Carfax might indicate that the
odometer readings at key events in the car's history, emissions
tests or title changes, don't match up.
For example, the report might show that a certain vehicle was
smog-checked in December 1999 at 55,000 miles. The number of miles a
car is driven directly affects the price of the car. If a car has been branded in another state, with a
salvage title, for example, this will be revealed on the report.
Salvage titles are assigned to cars that have been considered a
total loss by insurance companies. Though the car might still run
and be drivable, having a salvage title significantly reduces
the car's value.