10 points you should look for in a vehicle history report
For buying any used car, it is important to get a detailed vehicle history report. A vehicle history report is a vital document which reveals the entire history of a car. A vehicle history report makes you aware of critical information such as any accidents, recalls and the details of the current odometer reading. Vehicle history report is also known as VIN check, it helps you to get an idea of what to expect with a car when you go to buy. With Vehicle Check USA you can get the updated, detailed history report http://vehiclecheckusa.com/ on a single click.
For your information, we have explained the details of a vehicle history report below. These are the information you can find in a standard vehicle history report.
- Information about Past ownership
- Prior accidents
- Flood or fire damage
- Total loss/salvage history
- Liens
- Maintenance history
- Recalls
- Odometer reading
- Failed emissions test
- Stolen vehicle check
Contents of a vehicle history report
Every vehicle history report essentially gives you the life history of your selected car. Information in the vehicle history report can help you make a good decision for buying a used car. You should see the following information in a VIN check report.
Information about Past ownership
It’s always helpful to know who owned your vehicle prior to you. A vehicle history report also gives you the information like where the previous person lived. If you notice that the car has passed through multiple owners’ hands, this could be a sign that the vehicle has problems.
Prior accidents
Based on the information on the nature of accidents and the number of collisions, you can decide the residual damage that a car may have. At the same time, if you get the information that the car you have chosen hasn’t been in any accidents, that’s good news. The Vehicle History report will also inform you if the car’s airbags have ever deployed.
Flood or fire damage
Remember, any Cars involved in fire or flooding may have sustained long-lasting damage to the engine. You need to check the car properly to see the nature of the damage and what repairs, if any, were made. For more details, you can check the link:http://vehiclecheckusa.com/blog/how-to-avoid-buying-a-flood-damaged-car/
Total loss/salvage history
Any cars declared a total loss or salvaged are obviously of questionable integrity. Don’t forget that a total loss of a car generally means the car is hazardous and it should be avoided. Any car with a salvage history may still be safe to drive. For more details, you can check the link- http://vehiclecheckusa.com/blog/5-things-you-should-know-about-a-salvage-title/
Liens
A lien on a private sale vehicle can be a big problem. Lien means that the seller doesn’t fully own the car. If there is a lien on the car you are purchasing, you won’t be able to obtain a loan for the purchase, transfer the title to your name, or register or insure the vehicle. In such circumstances, it’s generally best to have the owner get the lien released prior to you buying the car. For more details on a lien, please check the link-http://vehiclecheckusa.com/blog/how-to-buy-a-car-that-has-a-bank-lien-on-the-title/
Maintenance history
The information related to the maintenance history of a car helps you know what’s been repaired or replaced. The maintenance history information will help you budget for future maintenance. Also, the repair history can also help you during price negotiations.
Recalls
It’s always good to know if the car you’re considering buying has any recalls and if those repairs were made.
Odometer reading
Odometer reading will give you the information about how many miles the car has been driven. If the car you have chosen has high mileage, this may enable you to bargain for a lower price. Vehicle history report works as a warning if there is any odometer fraud in the used car you are considering. For more information on odometer fraud, please read our blog: http://vehiclecheckusa.com/blog/4-points-on-how-to-detect-the-odometer-fraud-in-a-used-car/
Failed emissions test
For those who are staying in an area that requires smog checks, and the car has failed such tests, this could mean costly repairs for you.
Stolen vehicle check
A car history report also alerts you to any potential problems that could point to the auto being stolen. If the car has ever been stolen, this will also show up on the vehicle history report.
————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————–
Every used car has a back-end story and some of them are nothing short of a nightmare. So, always look for the Vehicle History Report before purchasing a used car. It will help you know if a car has a clean history or hidden problems. We have data available for every used car sold post-1982.