Free Vehicle History Report
A Free VIN History Report Is Step #1!
Buying a used car or truck can be pretty scary, but getting a free vehicle history report can help alleviate some of those fears.
You gain some assurances when buying through a used car dealer or through an auto auction house. They represent that the vehicle is what they advertise it to be. Usually, there is also some type of limited warranty. Those things help you feel confident that you’re not buying a “clunker” – or even something worse – like a stolen vehicle.
And it is also typically true that a used dealer will provide you with a comprehensive Carfax or AutoCheck report. Those are great to have, but unless you’re going through a participating dealer; they can be costly.
Why Get A Free Vehicle History Report?
But did you know that there are ways to get and honest-to-goodness free vehicle history report?
Seriously, a FREE VIN report – just for minimum effort.
But why do you even need a vehicle history report?
There are a lot of reasons, as you are about to see.
But I Thought VIN Reports Were Expensive!
Now like we said, if you are going through a dealer or an auction house, some things have already been verified (like title, etc.). However, if you are thinking of buying through an individual or through an ad service like Craigslist, you better do some due diligence, starting with a free VIN report.
Here are just a few things that a paid or even a free vehicle history report will help you verify:
- Is it legal – did someone report it stolen?
spacer - Are there accident reports involving that vehicle?
placeholder - Can you get a title of ownership?
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Has an insurance company ever declared it a total loss?
new line - Did the previous owner maintain it?
Are service records available?
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Other Useful Information You Need
And there are a lot of other things that you can learn about your prospective ride with a free VIN report.
How many owners has it been through?
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Have there been any recalls or manufacturing issues?
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Are there any known warranty problems?
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Where was it made?
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And very importantly – you can uncover indications of the actual mileage; because odometer tampering is more common than you might think.
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A Free Vehicle History Report Provides Critical Information
So you must consider a lot of things before investing in that great looking little car that was “owned by a little old lady who only drove it to church on Sunday”. It might seem odd though that it has a high-end stereo and a Nine Inch Nails sticker on the back window. Maybe she was just young at heart, right?
As you are starting to see, a free vehicle history report is an absolute necessity before buying a used vehicle! It can help you get to the truth – the reality of that vehicle’s history rather than just what the seller wants you to think about it.
OK – we know now that a free VIN report is a must, but it sounds kind of complicated.
What kind of hoops do you have to jump through in order to get something as complicated and as useful as that?
Really, it is pretty easy – all you need is one “magic number”!
Every vehicle on the road has a unique, “VIN” – a Vehicle Identification Number”.
When something happens or is done related to the VIN for a vehicle, it is reported and goes into a database.
How Is VIN Data Collected?
If the vehicle is ever reported as stolen, if it’s involved in an accident, if it gets an oil change – that information is often recorded and reported. It becomes part of the permanent history of that vehicle.
Now there can be circumstances under which certain things are not reported.
If the vehicle is in an accident and the owner pays for repairs “out of pocket”, rather than filing an insurance claim; then the accident may not be recorded in the history.
Is The VIN History Comprehensive?
If most of the service and maintenance is done by a mechanic who doesn’t report that work; it will not be recorded.
In instances like that some of the vehicle history will not be available.
But there are other safeguards for that we’ll touch upon in a moment.
But even so, it is easy to see that an incredible volume of important and useful information is available to help you make an informed decision about buying that vehicle.
Who Offers Free Vehicle History Reports?
So how can you get your free vehicle history report?
There are multiple agencies which provide information, such as:
The NICB (National Insurance Crime bureau).
The NICB is a great resource if you just want to determine if the vehicle has been reported stolen, declared a “total loss” after an accident or if it has been salvaged.
Although the information is important, it is pretty limited in scope. Add to that the fact that you can only search five (5) vehicles in a 24-hour period, and the NICB just isn’t your “go-to” source for a comprehensive, free vehicle history report.
The Best VIN History Resource Online Today
By far, your best bet is to use a free service that collects data from multiple sources and compiles it into a single, comprehensive report that covers almost everything you will need to know.
We have scoured the web and tested dozens of different services.
Not surprisingly, some VIN reports are claimed to be “free”, but come with a catch.
Or perhaps some conditions that you may want to avoid in these days of spam and information breeches.
However, there is a great, free service that does exactly what they advertise:
Using VehicleHistory.com provides you with a wealth of information that can help you make sure that you are making a good decision. But it doesn’t stop there.
VehicleHistory.com is a full-fledged used vehicle buyers support portal with reviews written by experts in the automotive field, and backed up with actual testimonials and comments provided by vehicle owners.
It is a comprehensive service that also shows average costs. Costs not just for buying a vehicle – but for the ongoing cost of ownership too!
Check Out VehicleHistory.com Comprehensive Articles Here
They have an information rich Buyer’s Guide that covers hundreds of specific vehicles from multiple model years.
If you are in the market for buying a used car and want a reality check about your choice, then VehicleHistory.com is the Swiss Army Knife of used vehicle evaluation tools.
So How Do I Get The VIN Number?
And it couldn’t be easier to use.
Just get the VIN from the vehicle:
Look for it on the title paperwork or on service records or receipts for things like replacement parts or tires.
Search VehicleHistory.com NOW!
Barring that, you will find it on most passenger vehicles on the driver-side dashboard, right where the windshield meets the dash.
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Where Else Should I Look?
Most vehicles manufactured after 1981 will have a 17-character VIN while older vehicles will have an 11-character VIN. You can also usually find it on a metal plate attached to the driver side doorjamb. Each character or group of characters in the VIN provides specific information about the vehicle. You can learn the country and year of manufacture, the engine type and other useful specifics all from the VIN.
But to access your free vehicle history report, you will simply visit VehicleHistory.com and enter the VIN into the search box. Almost instantly you will see volumes of information. It will help you assess the value of the vehicle, for starters. Also whether or not there are things you need to be concerned about.
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And while you are on VehicleHistory.com, be sure to take advantage of the wealth of free information they make available.
Once you have checked all of that out and the vehicle looks like a safe bet, be sure to speak with the current owner (if possible). And as a last step in making your decision, have the vehicle inspected by an independent mechanic. They will be able to alert you to any potentially expensive (or dangerous) issues that are not readily visible.
Taking these quick, easy – and mostly FREE – precautions will help ensure that your new vehicle will be the wise investment you were hoping for!
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