You approach the car vendor with enthusiasm, and the moment you find that perfect car at a great price, you give in to the thrill of the moment. There’s one very important step you should never skip: getting a vehicle history report on the vehicle’s background. You can try running a VIN report for free, which will indicate most of the basic information about the vital incidents in the history of the car that may influence your decision to buy it or not.
What Is a VIN Report?
A VIN report is an inclusive report that makes the revelation of a vehicle’s history possible through the help of a 17-character VIN. It includes a great deal of information, starting from the car accident history and odometer records to the previous ownership records and thefts. The VIN report is something like a background check, showing you everything that probably the seller would not tell you.
Uncover Hidden Problems
The report reveals hidden vehicle problems that are not apparent when looking at it. A vehicle may look perfect from the outside, but its history may turn out to be a whole different story. A vehicle history report will show whether the car has been involved in accidents, may suffer major damages, or has even been salvaged. This will better prepare you for negotiation or even help you avoid a very costly mistake all along.
Verify Ownership and Title Status
Another really valuable piece of information provided by a VIN report is car ownership and title status. You would not want to buy any car with a “branded” title, which can mean, among other things, that it once was considered a total loss by an insurance carrier. A VIN report provides certainty that one is buying from the rightful owner, with a clean title for future resale or insurance.
Protect Yourself from Odometer Fraud
Odometer fraud is an unfortunate fact in the used car market. Sometimes a seller manipulates the odometer to make the car appear to have covered fewer miles than what it has traveled. Such deceit may lead to overpaying for the car and may also develop more maintenance issues later on. The VIN report contains verified odometer readings from different times in the life of the vehicle. This will help you note discrepancies with ease and steer clear of odometer rollback scams.
Identify Past Recalls and Repairs
Many cars have manufacturer recalls, and not all previous owners follow through with the work to get them repaired. A free VIN report will inform you of any past recalls so that you can fix any outstanding safety issues before taking the car home. Also, the history may indicate how well or poor the repair and maintenance history of the car is to help in judging its general reliability.
Enhance Security with GPS Tracking
In addition to a VIN report, another layer of protection for purchasing a used car is GPS tracking. Many newer cars have built-in GPS systems that you can use to track exactly over the car in real time. About used cars, the installation of a GPS tracker comes with great peace of mind in case the history of the car is riddled with theft and many other vices. This technology not only adds a security layer by preventing theft but also allows you to track the vehicle in case of emergencies or disputes. Merging the GPS tracking with the VIN full report will present you with a full view concerning aspects of safety, condition, and overall reliability of the car to help in making a better purchase.
Make a Confident Buying Decision
A vehicle history report gives you peace of mind since a candid look at the vehicle’s history is made possible. You, therefore, can make this decision more informed and confident. Whether it says a clean history or a lot of red flags, it gives one the go-ahead to weigh out the benefits against the risks in buying that particular vehicle. Sometimes this means you may need to walk away, while other times you can use the information to negotiate a much better deal.
Avoid Legal Issues
Buying a car with an undisclosed lien or stolen status is serious legal trouble. A VIN report ascertains whether the vehicle has some legal claims against it, or whether it was reported stolen. It is an important check that will save you from headaches in the future and ensure buying a used car is easy and legally proper.
Conclusion: Don’t Skip the VIN Check
In the world of used cars, it’s always better to be safe than sorry. Save yourself from hidden problems, fraud, or even legal issues with an investment of a few minutes in getting a vehicle history report. This will be one small step that will make much difference between driving away safely, reliably, and rightly priced.
Next time you buy a secondhand car, make sure getting the VIN report is number one on your list to unlock the vehicle’s full history.
