Protecting Yourself With Motor Vehicle Histories

If you're buying a used motor vehicle, it's important to know what has happened to it in the past. If you buy your car blind, you're at risk for picking up a lemon. To protect yourself, be sure to order a motor vehicle history report. These reports can be ordered from a number of Internet companies.

Computer technology has made it possible to find out the entire history of a vehicle from only its VIN. The first company that offered this service was Carfax, which began faxing reports of this kind in 1986. It uses a database of almost 2 billion used vehicle records to email vehicle history reports almost instantly.

Although Carfax is the biggest in this industry, there are other companies you can get a vehicle history report from. Many of them draw on similar sources and present their information at competitive prices.

Some places, like Consumer Guide, compile information from their own databases with that of credit check companies like Experien. This helps them track trouble spots for particular makes and years of cars as well as giving you the complete history of your used car.

People who are selling their cars can also order the vehicle history report on their car and use it to show the prospective buyer that there's nothing shady going on. You can use these reports to track past accidents, bodywork, the real odometer reading, recalls and more. You should never buy a used car without checking up on its background first.

It could have been in an accident that has been cosmetically fixed, but there could be a bent frame somewhere under the surface. Or, that year could consistently suffer from engine trouble. This is information you want to know before you buy a car.

Most vehicle history checks will also detect title washing - the practice of unloading an inferior or damaged vehicle in another state. Salvaged cars and other bad vehicles are sometimes sold this way by unscrupulous dealers. If the seller's name is different from the name on the title, you could be looking at a title washed car. If you check your car's history, you'll find out if it was salvaged or junked somewhere else.

Some reports from vehicle history companies could turn up false positives for sneakiness, so be sure to look carefully at the full history of your car. What looks like a false odometer reading could simply be a clerical error. Even with this minor drawback, a vehicle history report is your best way of protecting yourself when you get a new car.

Vehicle History