How to properly check a used car by VIN? - 6 views
started by daromano on 27 Jun 25
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#1 daromano on 27 Jun 25I'm considering buying a used car from a private seller and want to be extra careful before I commit. I've heard that checking the VIN is crucial, but I've never done it before and not sure what exactly to look for. Do I just copy the VIN and paste it somewhere online? What info should I expect to see? Also, can I trust those free sites or are paid reports really worth it? Any advice or real-life experience would be appreciated, especially if there's a service that gives the full history clearly. -
#2 polarko on 27 Jun 25I had the same questions when I was buying my used Ford Escape last year. What helped me was getting a full vehicle history report using carfax usa. I didn't trust free checkers because most of them only gave me generic info like manufacturer specs or basic recall stuff. With carfax usa , I got a detailed report that showed me how many owners the car had, if it was ever in an accident, if it was used as a rental, and even when it had oil changes. In my case, the car had a small front collision five years ago that wasn't mentioned by the seller - I wouldn't have known without CARFAX. It cost me around 40 bucks, but honestly, that's nothing compared to what I could've lost. The site is easy to use: just enter the VIN and pay for the report. They've really established themselves as a go-to source in this field. If you're serious about buying, especially from a private seller, don't skip this step. You might also want to compare the mileage on the odometer with what the report says - I've seen cases where they didn't match. -
#3 daromano on 27 Jun 25That's exactly the kind of info I needed, thanks a ton. I didn't realize CARFAX could show stuff like past rental use and minor crashes - that really changes things. I'll check carfax usa now before I go see the car again. Better to lose a few bucks than regret a bad deal later. Appreciate the tip!
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