When buying a used car, it is essential to research and check its history. There are many online and offline ways to check your car history. By checking the car’s history, you can find out if the vehicle has been in any accidents or if it has been in any legal trouble. You can also find out how many owners the car has had and get a report on its mechanical condition.
Buying a used car from a private seller is especially important to check the vehicle’s history. You want to make sure that you know as much as possible about the vehicle before you buy it so that there are no surprises down the road. Having an independent mechanic look at the car before purchasing it is essential to ensure there are no major mechanical problems.
By researching and checking your car history, you can avoid buying a lemon and save yourself from costly repairs down the road.
Secret Tips On Checking Your Car History Before Buy
- Ask the owner for documents
- Ask the dealer for past documents
- Hiring an expert for inspection of the car
- Check the VIN
- Where to get VIN
- Information getting from VIN
- How to check VIN
Ask the owner for documents
If you buy a used car from a private seller, you can ask the owner about the vehicle. Also, you can request the car’s previous service record. He should have all the last repair and servicing documentation and receipt of replacing any parts. From there, you can better understand how the owner treated the car and if it had had any accidents. That will also give you information if it has more than one owner or is stolen.
You will get information on any issue with the car for which the present owner is selling the vehicle.
Ask the dealer for past documents
You can also ask for his previous record if you are not buying a car from a personal seller but a used car dealer. The dealer may provide information about the past owner and other repair services and accident reports.
Hiring an expert for inspection of the car
If you have a mechanic you know very well, you can ask him to give that car a thorough inspection. By inspecting the vehicle, he can tell you whether the car has had any accident or has any to it.
Check the VIN
If you didn’t get any information or you are not satisfied with the answer of the owner or dealer, you can ask them for the VIN of the car. Every car ever made has a vehicle identification number in short VIN.
Where to get VIN
Ask your dealer or salesperson for the car’s VIN. You will get the VIN on the documents you get from the owner or dealer. It is also recorded on the vehicle insurance card and registration document.
Rather than asking the dealer or owner, there is another way you can check it yourself inside the car. Some vehicles will find it on the driver’s side front door. You can also find it on the driver’s side windshield.
Information getting from VIN
If you get this number, you will be able to check online every piece of information about that car, including
- The name you will get on the name vehicle is registered or the previous owner’s information.
- How many owners had the car had
- It has any recall, accidents if fall in and any repairing it.
- The previous owner treated the car and if he did its regular services on time.
- You will get the engine information and mileage of the vehicle too.
- You will know if the car is stolen and reported for theft.
How to check VIN
If you buy the car from a registered reputable car agency, they will provide you with the VIN and help you get the VIN information. There are several websites available where you can also check the VIN. You may have to pay a small fee to get the reports on some websites. Also, there are some websites where you can do it for free. Some websites where you can check the VIN, including
- National insurance crime bureau
- National highway traffic safety administration
- CarFax
- Vehicle history.com
- AutoCheck