If you are in the process of purchasing a used vehicle, it is in you’re best interest to not only have it looked over by a trusted mechanic but to also find out as much about that car and it’s history as possible to avoid unforeseen issues down the road. A vehicle history report is a document that gives important details about the car you are about to purchase. This type of document is usually provided upon request at a dealership. If however you are considering purchasing a used vehicle from a private seller, it is up to you to hunt down the report yourself. This can be easily done by visiting either the Carfax or AutoCheck websites online and printing them out. If you are unfamiliar with a vehicle history report, there are several types of information contained in the document that you should pay close attention to.

How many owners has this used car had? Knowing this number is very important because it lets you know about how long the car has actually been on the road. The more drivers listed on the vehicle and the more years they have had it.... the more wear and tear that the car has gone through. Granted, many dealerships will make some tweaks here and there and make the car shine like new... but new paint cant fix an old clunker. How many drivers the car has had doesn’t always effect the over all condition of the car, especially if it has been well taken care of, however knowing who those previous owners were is a great resource because you can contact them before you purchase and ask them about their personal experience with the car and any problems they may have had. Chances are if they no longer own the car and they are not selling it, they have nothing to lose by telling you.

One of the most important things that a vehicle history report can tell you is whether or not a vehicle has been involved in an accident. These reports will outline exactly what type of accident it was (head-on, side impact, etc) and tell you exactly what type of damage it incurred. It will let you know how many times the airbags have been deployed, whether the car was totaled and what kind of losses the driver faced as well. This information is crucial for a buyer to know because any serious accident will cause long term damage to the car, decreasing it’s value and making it less safe for you to drive. Cars that have endured several accidents during their lifetime should be avoided as they will likely only cause you problems down the road.

Sometimes damage can be caused by locational hazards and weather conditions. A vehicle history report may not outline this type of damage but it can give you a head’s up that this type of issue may be present. If your used car’s previous owner lived in an area with severe winters, your car may likely have some water exposure damage or minor damage caused from salted roads. Take the time to look up the owner’s previous area to learn of any unusual weather conditions or catastrophe’s (like floods, hurricane’s or tornadoes) that may have somehow impacted your vehicle.

If you were buying a stolen vehicle... do you think you would know? Chances are you probably would not. In many circumstances, a car thief will copy the VIN number of a legal model of the car they have stolen and etch it to the glass in the stolen car to avoid suspicion. A vehicle history report will give you a detailed description of the car you are supposed to be buying including scratches, dings and the number of miles on the car so that you can be sure the car you are purchasing is legitimate and legal. This report will also give you the last reading on the odometer. Always compare this number to what the car’s dash reads to make sure the odometer has not been tampered with and turned back.

Going the extra mile to dig up the vehicle history is a step that can inevitably save you a lot of time, money and hassle in the future. These documents are meant to make the car buying process safer and to put you on the same playing field as the seller, who may or may not disclose this type of information to you.  It is your right as a consumer to know about what your purchasing. Customer friendly dealerships will often give you a copy of this report for free, while less reputable dealerships will not want you to see it. If that is the case, let you’re red flag go up that you may want to purchase your new used vehicle elsewhere.