When trying to determine car history, the VIN number is a key to a vehicle’s past. Vehicle history reports can save you a lot of headaches when shopping for a used car. Using one of the popular car history report sites is as easy as typing the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) into the service’s search window. Within moments you can find out a host of information about your potential purchase. The information available varies but can include the number of registered owners, evidence of odometer tampering, any accident reports, if the car has a salvage title, evidence of flood damage and much more.
A good example of the trouble you can avoid with a vehicle history report involves factory warranties. If the vehicle you are buying is being sold with the remainder of a factory warranty, but has a “salvage” title, the warranty will be void. Without that remaining warranty, you may be stuck with repair bills if something goes wrong with the vehicle, and you never would have seen it coming without a vehicle history report.
Many car dealers offer free vehicle history reports on their used vehicles as a sales incentive. Providing this information to the consumer makes for a much more confident buying experience and improves the image of used car dealers by dealing openly and fairly with the buyer.
Vehicle history reports are reasonably priced when you buy them individually, or you can, in some cases, pay for multiple reports at a discount while you are in the market for a used car. By paying for a subscription, you save money on the reports, and you steer clear of clunkers all at the same time.
There are a number of vehicle history report services available, any one of which can save you from having to make lemonade out of your lemon. Check out a few of them at the links below and pick the one that’s right for you.