How to Check Car History Before Buying a Used One

Are you planning to buy a used car? Do not be carried away by the extra spit and polish on the car to entice you into buying it. On average, of all the cars put up for sale in the used-car market, every 1 in 100 is a flood-damaged one, every 50^th car has a tampered odometer, and every 5^th is a salvaged car. You will also have to contend with financial dues outstanding on the car that will stop you from transferring clear title to your name after you have made full payment for it.

All these statistics might seem bizarre but this is the reality. And unless you check car history with VIN number to ensure that you are getting your money’s worth, your whole investment will go down the drain.

So, what is VIN and why should you check car history with VIN number before buying a used car?

The VIN or Vehicle Identification Number is like the fingerprint of a car as no two can ever be the same. It is a 17-digit code comprising of alphabets and numerical and is specific to the vehicle it is imprinted on. The VIN can be found on the portion of the dashboard that is nearest to the windshield or on the doorpost on the driver’s side. Each digit in VIN denotes a particular specification of the vehicle like the manufacturer, brand, engine size, type of vehicle, model, year, and plant of manufacture. The last 6 are numerical and the serial number of the vehicle.

All this information about every vehicle on the road is available on government databases and you should check car history with VIN number to make sure that the car you are buying is genuine. Through a simple VIN check, you will know if the car has a history of recalls, thefts, warranty claims, and issues with registrations and insurance coverage.

However, the most important information that you will get if you check car history with VIN number is whether any loan dues are outstanding on the vehicle. Unless this loan is repaid in full by the seller you will be unable to get clear ownership of the vehicle. Often sellers dispose of their cars due to monetary issues. In that case, you can pay off the loan and adjust the amount from the price of the car.

Finally, how do you check car history with VIN number? Visit a website that specializes in issuing PPSR Certificates. Download a form, fill in the particulars of the car along with the VIN, and make the necessary payment as per the extent of details wanted. Click the Submit button and within seconds, a concise report will be sent by SMS to your mobile and a detailed report to your email address. Getting a VIN report couldn’t be easier than this.