Thinking of Buying a Used Car? Here's How VehicleHistory's Free VIN Checker Can Help

These days, buying a used car is a stressful experience. Not only do you have to do your research and find the perfect make and model to suit your budget, but you also have to keep your wits about you and be on the lookout for scammers and opportunists. After all, where there is money to be made, there will almost always be someone looking to defraud you.

At the time of writing, it’s currently estimated that 74–78 million vehicles are sold worldwide every year, with 17 million of those coming from the US alone. This gives the US used car market a value of $117,942,000,000 . That’s a whole lot of cars to choose from!

So how can you be sure the car you want to buy is the real deal, and somebody isn’t pulling the wool over your eyes? Fortunately, VehicleHistory.com can help you with that.

Get a free VIN check with VehicleHistory

Every car in the world is given a 17 digit alphanumeric code before it leaves the manufacturing plant. These codes act as the car’s fingerprint, allowing you to identify the exact make, model, and specifications of the vehicle and gain an insight into the key events that occurred during its lifetime.

Interestingly, if you learn how to decipher the VIN, you can find out a whole bunch of helpful information about the car, such as:

• The manufacturer and date of production
• The production plant
• Country of origin
• Model and serial number

All of this is handy to know when looking for a used car; however, with VehicleHistory, you can access an even more comprehensive report that gives a deeper insight into the car’s history. You can then take this with you when you go to inspect the car and enter into negotiations with the seller, using your newfound knowledge to your advantage in the car buying process.

What exactly does a VIN report give you?

Once you are armed with a car’s VIN, you can gain access to reliable information about the car’s history, which means you don’t have to take the seller at their word or be over-reliant on your vehicle inspection skills. After all, not everybody is a mechanic, and it can be challenging to figure out whether or not a car is as the seller described.

To get your free report, all you have to do is enter the vehicle VIN on VehicleHistory.com, and you will be greeted with the following information:

The exact specs

Your report will show you a very detailed list of the car’s specs. This includes things like the car’s age, origins of the engine model, body class, brake system, fuel type, and even the location of the airbags.

The official mileage

Everybody knows one of the most common scams in the used car market is sellers hiding the true mileage on the odometer. Dodgy car salespeople have been known to roll back the clocks, making the car seem as if it’s in better condition than it actually is.

Even digital odometers can be tampered with, so don’t be fooled into believing they are accurate without double-checking.

With a VIN report, you get access to the official mileage reports that have been logged throughout the car’s history. If you notice a sudden change in mileage between reports or a discrepancy between what the buyer is claiming and the VIN report, it’s more than a good enough reason to walk away from the deal.

Past collisions and damage reports

You will also be able to see critical events in the car’s history, such as past collisions and major repairs that have taken place. This is handy to know, as if the vehicle has been salvaged or taken severe damage in the past, you need to know about it.

Cars that have gone through such events should be much cheaper than those with a clean history, so sellers have an incentive to hide this from you. Not only does this mean you are paying over the odds for a previously scrapped car, but it also puts you in danger as the structure and safety of the car may have been compromised.

NHTSA recalls and complaints

Your free report will also display any vehicle safety recalls from major car manufacturers. This is essential information as vehicle recalls usually mean there has been a serious defect during the car’s production that needs to be amended. In most cases, the manufacturer should resolve the issue for free. However, some owners never go to the effort of taking the recalled car to get repairs.

Fortunately, the VIN report will also show any unrepaired vehicles that have been affected by a vehicle safety recall in the past 15 calendar years.

Final word

Even though purchasing a used car is an exciting experience, it’s important to keep in mind that a lot can go wrong if you’re unprepared. A VIN check, when used correctly, will prevent you from falling for scams and investing your money into a “lemon”.

Additionally, a VIN check gives you peace of mind knowing that you aren’t about to walk into a nightmare scenario, and you can feel much more confident throughout the whole process.

Remember to take the VIN report with you so you can check if what the buyer tells you is truthful. If you suspect something is wrong or if you notice a discrepancy, raise it immediately with the buyer and if they don't have a legitimate excuse then it’s time to walk away.