In the United States, a buyer purchasing a pre-owned car typically accepts that car as-is. In other words, in most states, a buyer has little recourse if his or her car turns out to be riddled with problems. Vehicle history reports can help buyers choose wisely and avoid cars with rocky histories.
A vehicle history report is based on a vehicle’s identification number (VIN), which is typically etched into part of the car. American car makers have been using VINs since 1954, and the practice is now standardized internationally. A vehicle identification number can be used to trace a vehicle from the manufacturer’s plant to a dealership and any registered owners.
An important factor in a vehicle history report is the previous registered owners. Ideally, the car has only had a single owner. This increases the likelihood that maintenance was regular and the car was driven with reasonable care. Contrast this with a car owned by a rental company: it’s had hundreds of drivers, and they had little incentive to drive the car responsibly. Other troublesome prior owners include emergency services and taxi fleets.
Vehicle history reports also provide information about vehicle title branding. If a car has been branded, it was judged to be damaged beyond repair by a collision or natural disaster. It is possibly listed as being sold for scrap. If such a car is on the market, then most likely it was stolen. Although someone has repaired the vehicle, buyers should be wary. Although these vehicles may appear reliable, unseen internal problems could bring dangerous trouble down the road.
Reports also alert consumers to lemon law buybacks. Many states have lemon laws. These instruct car dealers to buy back cars that cannot be repaired with repeated attempts during the car’s initial warranty period. Some jurisdictions require lemon law buybacks to be included in the public record, but some do not – so this information may be missed by a vehicle history report.
Odometer fraud is another issue caught by some vehicle history reports. Odometer fraud is the practice of misrepresenting a car’s mileage, sometimes by not reporting that the odometer has rolled over, but more often by altering the odometer to indicate a lower mileage. If it’s not caught in a vehicle history report, this type of fraud might also be flagged through a comparison of annual motor vehicle registration documents.
Finally, vehicle history reports include information about mechanical trouble with the car. This can include manufacturer recalls, which are generally handled free of charge, and minor to moderate incidents of collision damage. Mechanical trouble can also reflect improper vehicle maintenance, such as the destruction of an engine that wasn’t properly oiled.
Information about vehicle history can be obtained in a number of ways. Some organizations provide a limited amount of information, such as that concerning collisions, free of charge. Consumers can also purchase more extensive vehicle history reports, but most of the time, reputable used car dealers will furnish a vehicle history report for free.
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