What a VIN Tells You About a Used Car

A VIN check is used to obtain a vehicle’s past history. A VIN report includes details of a used car from police reports, insurance companies, repair documents and state DMVs. VIN reports are, therefore, essential for potential buyers to take an informed decision. By going through a VIN report, one can find out relevant information such as past ownership, discrepancies in the reading of odometer, any instances of rash car driving activities, and the number of times the car was sold. To find out more about what a VIN report tells you about a used car or vehicle, read the following post.

Why Vehicle VIN Check is Important?
When you buy a used car, you need to make sure that the car owner or dealer provided you accurate information about the vehicle. A VIN number check is important to know the car’s true identity and to avoid car buying issues such as:

Odometer Rollback: Odometer fraud is one of the most common issues when buying a used car. Many used car dealers rollback the odometer readings to hide the actual mileage of the car. A VIN check helps find out the current mileage of the car.

Theft: If you want to avoid buying a stolen car, a VIN check is important as it helps find out if the vehicle you’re buying was reported as stolen.

VIN Cloning: Often used car sellers use the VIN of a legally registered car to hide the identity of a salvage or stolen car. A VIN check is important to avoid issues of VIN cloning.

Accident History: Many sellers hide the actual collision and accident history of the car from the buyers and sell it as a clean-titled vehicle. A VIN check helps to know all the information of the vehicle’s past history including accidents, collisions, and major repairs.

What a VIN Report Includes
A VIN report includes a detailed summary of the used vehicle.

• The name of the current or last state which titled the vehicle
• The odometer reading
• Brand history of the vehicle such as clean, junk or salvage
• Total loss history
• Salvage history
• Pictures of the vehicle and the auction price if it was sold through auction yards

VIN report also provides complete history of the vehicle’s ownership which includes information regarding

• The year in which the vehicle was sold and purchased
• Number of owners
• Purpose of use — rental services, government use, or personal use
• Estimated mileage of the vehicle each year
• The exact odometer reading

Wrapping Up
A VIN is also referred as the car’s fingerprint as no two vehicle can have the same VIN. The VIN has a seventeen digit unique identification number for each vehicle which displays car’s specifications, registration details, manufacturer and unique features. It is also used to determine the warranty claims, insurance coverage, and track recalls. Whether you’re buying a used Mercedes, Audi or a BMW, do perform a VIN check.