Updated on: July 20, 2021
Vehicle history reports are a valuable tool in the fight against car-shopping anxiety. They combine information ranging from DMV titling records to insurance companies' total-loss assessments, and from accident history to ownership history. Many dealerships offer vehicle history reports for free, but even if you have to pay for one, rest assured that it is a worthwhile investment.
What is a Vehicle History Report?
For many, shopping for a used car is accompanied by feelings of dread and discomfort. Even when you've searched high and low to find that perfect car, with everything you need and every option you want, you may still hear that little voice in the back of your mind wondering, "Why's the price so low? Who else has driven this car? Where has it been?" In times like these, vehicle history reports can provide some valuable, if not exhaustive, information.
A VIN check (VIN meaning vehicle identification number) lets car buyers see, in a single report, a number of useful facts about the car that can answer your questions, or at least hint at the answers. Though it can't actually provide a comprehensive list of every person who has driven the car, the report will enumerate the previous owners. It will also let you know the car's title history, so you'll know if it's had flood damage or been issued a salvage title—either would substantially influence the pricing. Also tied to the car's vehicle identification number? Information about any and all airbag deployments, useful clues about the car's history. It will even tell you about open recalls (and previous recalls that have been addressed) for that car, which will come in handy if you're considering several examples of the same model.
Where Do Vehicle History Reports Come From?
Numerous companies offer vehicle history reports, but three sources stand out: CarFax, AutoCheck, and the National Motor Vehicle Title Information System (NMVTIS). Each of these sources is a little different, but all aim to provide vehicle information in the spirit of consumer protection.
Carfax and AutoCheck are both for-profit businesses, with Carfax starting the whole idea back in 1984. AutoCheck is owned by Experian and distinguishes itself with a comprehensive "score" for each vehicle. The NMVTIS, on the other hand, is a system managed under the U.S. Department of Justice's umbrella. Run by the non-profit American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators (AAMVA), the NMVTIS works with a series of providers to disseminate its information.
All three sources collect information primarily from Departments of Motor Vehicles, insurance providers, auto recyclers, and junk and salvage yards. Although no Carfax, Autocheck, or any other report can replace an independent mechanic's inspection, when purchasing a used vehicle, obtaining a vehicle history report should be one of your first steps.
Why Do You Need a Vehicle History Report?
You might think you only need to invest in a vehicle history report if you're skeptical of a car's "accident-free" history, have concerns about how many owners it's had, or just don't quite trust the car dealership or private party you're working with, but in all honesty, anyone looking to buy a used car should plan to obtain a report.
These reports provide some peace of mind, and they can help protect buyers from nefarious sellers. As shoppers, we look at vehicle mileage during our car search to help gauge the age of a car. A 10-year-old car, for instance, might not seem so old if it's traveled only 70,000 miles. This reality presents sellers with a very tempting, albeit illegal, motivation for tampering with odometers. An "odometer rollback" may allow a seller to add hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars to a selling price, but it's a scam. Luckily, vehicle history reports document the car's mileage each time it went in for service. If mileage suddenly drops halfway through its lifespan, you should view that as a serious red flag.
Likewise, a talented body shop can repair or hide previous damage, even structural damage, so well that only an attentive, trained eye will notice. No matter how well it's been repaired, though, a car with a salvage title will yield substantially lower resale values than one with an unbranded title. Obtaining the vehicle history report will tell you exactly what's going on with your potential purchase's title.
Dismissing scare tactics, however, the simple truth is that while many vehicle history reports won't turn up anything out of the ordinary, one that does can save you plenty of time and energy. If the dealership selling you the car won't provide a free vehicle history report, be sure to invest in one as part of your research. It's a key component of used car buying.
Where Can You Buy a Vehicle History Report?
As mentioned earlier, there are three primary resources when looking for a vehicle history report. Each avenue will require you to supply the car or truck's vehicle identification number (VIN), which should be included on the for-sale listing, but can also be found on the left side of the vehicle's dash (near the windshield) and inside the driver-side door, near the latch. Additionally, many car dealers offer free VIN checks on their websites, but if that isn't an option, here are the basics:
Carfax costs the most but is also the most recognizable. A Carfax report includes (among other things) accident history, the number of owners the car has had, an overview of its service history, and an accounting of the car's odometer readings.
AutoCheck provides all of this as well, but also includes the company's "AutoCheck Score" for each vehicle—this is a number between 1 and 100 designed to quickly capture the condition and history of the car. The higher the number, the better.
The NMVTIS delivers reports through a set of providers for much less than either Carfax or AutoCheck, and its reports are very accurate, as state titling agencies, insurance carriers, auto recyclers, and junk and salvage yards are required to report to it. That being said, NMVTIS reports aren't as detailed as those of the competition.
What Are a Vehicle History Report's Limitations?
Whether it's a Carfax, an AutoCheck, or from the NMVTIS, vehicle history reports are undoubtedly valuable. They offer legitimate third-party information to help shoppers know a little more about what they're looking at and can steer shoppers away from a potential lemon, saving them the time it takes to get to a dealership for a test drive, not to mention the hassle of negotiating.
That being said, vehicle history reports aren't foolproof, either. Similar to credit reports, these documents are only as good as the data reported, so if a driver has a car accident and opts to repair the damage him- or herself, that accident won't appear on the vehicle's history report. Additionally, there can be a substantial time delay between when the data is reported and when you purchase a report, meaning the information might not be as up-to-date as possible. For these reasons, you should check the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's Recall look-up tool and have every potential used car purchase inspected by an independent mechanic, no matter what the Carfax says.
Related Topics
What to Look For When Buying a Used Car
How To Negotiate a Great Deal on a Used Car
How To Spot a Flood-Damaged Car