4 Lesser-known Benefits of Car VIN Numbers

William Norberg
2 min readMay 10, 2018

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A Vehicle Identification Number, or “VIN” for short, is a 17-digit alphanumeric number that holds the key to getting detailed information about a vehicle’s history, including its maintenance and damage records, number of past owners, year of registration, and other such details. This information helps people in making informed decisions when purchasing used cars or salvage cars. If you are looking to buy a used car, this blog will let you know how VIN number can help you make a wise buying decision.

1. Pay a Fair Price

The value of a used or salvage car depends on a number of factors such as maintenance consistency and records, accidents and major repairs, and number of past owners. As a car VIN check helps you unearth the complete history of a car, it helps ensure you buy it at a fair price.

2. Safeguard Your Interest

Whenever you consider buying a used car, running a VIN helps ensure you stay clear of the law. A VIN check lets you know whether a car was reported stolen in the past or was involved in any illegal activities. If a car has a tainted past, it is advisable to move on to the next option.

3. Avoid Cloning Frauds

Vehicle cloning is a common scam that is gaining popularity by the day. It is the practice of using a vehicle identification number (VIN) of a legally registered car to hide the identity of a salvaged or stolen car by replacing its serial number plate with a validly registered car of a similar make and model. Running a car VIN check help you avoid such frauds when buying a used car.

4. Check if a Car has been Stolen

Running a VIN check helps you in deciphering whether the car has been stolen. Prospective buyers can run a VIN check via the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) database to check if the car has been reported stolen in the past. It is a free tool that can help you protect yourself from purchasing a stolen car.

Wrap Up

Lookup used cars by their VIN to make a safe, trouble-free and informative buying decision. No matter the car you have opted to buy; whether it is an Audi, BMW or Ford, perform a car VIN check to get detailed information about the vehicle. You can easily find a number of reputable websites offering free car VIN check. Simply search the web to find such a website and enter the VIN of the car you wish to purchase to get detailed information about it past.

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