Yahoo Autos What Is a Vehicle History Report? A Complete Guide
If you're looking to purchase a used vehicle, then a pre-purchase inspection (PPI) and vehicle history report are the two most valuable tools you have in your toolbox. Both are important ways to make sure you know just how "clean" the vehicle you're interested in really is. The former requires you find a qualified shop to give the car or truck that piques your interest a once-over. The latter, however, is as simple as going to a website and inputting said car or truck's vehicle identification number (VIN) or license plate information.
These reports provide you with information about your car's history in one simple document, saving you time and money while helping to protect the value of your vehicle. Though they might not report the entirety of your vehicle's history (after all, some folks work on their vehicles on their own or go out of their way to find a shop that won't report repairs, hence the need for a PPI, too), they do give you a general idea of the sort of love and care—or lack thereof—the car or truck you're looking at has received over the years.
Learning about these reports and the benefits of requesting them may help you during any of your future car purchasing or selling experiences. For more advice about purchasing your next vehicle, read our buyer's guide. If you're ready to think about financing, complete the form below.
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What Is a Vehicle History Report?
A vehicle history report is a document that provides an overview of a vehicle's ownership history and other information. You can request a vehicle history report from various sources including the dealer, your own insurance company or credit union, or a third-party provider. The report includes a variety of information about the used car that might affect its value and use, as well as any issues with the title.
Vehicle History Report vs. CARFAX
CARFAX is an automotive service providing data on vehicles for use primarily by auto dealers and the automotive industry in general. It offers a variety of products that are directly available to consumers in some markets.
What Is Included in a Vehicle History Report?
Here is a list of items that may be included in a vehicle history report:
Service history: A vehicle history report includes a history of any services performed on the vehicle. This could include oil changes, fluid checks, and more.
Accident history: A vehicle history report includes information about the accident history, including specific accidents that have occurred involving the vehicle.
Service contracts: A vehicle history report often includes information about any service contracts that exist on the vehicle as well as any remaining contract time.
Odometer reading: A vehicle history report can be used to determine how many miles are actually on a car even if it doesn't match up with the odometer reading provided by the seller or displayed by other sources.
Salvage title: A vehicle history report can be used to find out if a car has a salvage title.
Lemon history: A vehicle history report can find out if the vehicle has been included in the manufacturer's lemon law program.
Title issues: A vehicle history report will provide information about any issues with the title of the car.
VIN: Vehicle history reports include checking the car's vehicle identification number. This can help you find any signs of tampering or forgery and confirm you are researching the correct used car.
Inspections: This report shows if a vehicle is up-to-date on required inspections and provides information on the date of previous inspections and the results.
Previous owners: These reports provide information about how many previous owners a vehicle has had and how long each owner had the vehicle. There is also information about how many miles each owner drove the vehicle.
Registration history: This report shows the history of when the vehicle was registered, including the state of registration and each renewal.
Flood and fire damage: A vehicle history report can reveal information about flood and fire damage. These can have a huge effect on the value and performance of used cars.
Location of sales: These reports also show details about the location of each sale. This can be important if you're interested in where the vehicle originated and the weather conditions in which it was driven.
How Do You Get a Vehicle History Report?
There are numerous ways to get this type of report. Here's a guide on each:
Dealership
You can request this type of report from the dealer you are purchasing the vehicle from. The dealer can order a report from the car manufacturer and get the report to you, or they can pull up the information on their computer once they have the VIN.
Insurance Company
Your insurance company will be able to provide a vehicle history report once you purchase your new policy. You can also check other insurance companies to see if they offer this service, especially if you're doing comparison shopping for different auto insurance providers.
Credit Union
Many credit unions will offer a vehicle history report at your request. Since credit unions provide very competitive auto financing rates, it may be worth it to open an account for your next car loan.
When Do You Get a Vehicle History Report?
You may get a vehicle history report in various circumstances, such as when:
Buying a vehicle: You may request a report when buying a new or used car. This information can inform your purchasing decision, as many details about a car's past may affect its value and performance in the future.
Insurance quotes: If you're shopping around for rates from different companies, one of the ways to make sure they're giving you a fair quote is to request a vehicle history report. These reports can ensure that insurance providers are aware of the condition of your vehicle before providing a rate.
Selling a vehicle: You may want to request or purchase a vehicle history report when selling your used car to ensure all looks good from a buyer's point of view, as well as to save potential buyers the time and hassle of having to get the report themselves.
Receiving a recall notice: You may receive a notice about an open recall on your vehicle. Before getting the recall taken care of, you can check for other outstanding recalls on your used car by requesting a vehicle history report.
Having car troubles: If your car is having specific issues, you may request this type of report to find out more about the issue. Experienced repair shops can also use this information to make the best decisions for your vehicle.
What Is Not Included in a Vehicle History Report?
Here are several items that are not included in this type of report:
Certain types of intentionally missing information: If a previous owner of a vehicle intentionally hid an accident, it is possible that this information may not appear on the report.
Body damage: A vehicle history report generally will not include information about minor dents and scratches, dings, and other cosmetic damage. It is more concerned with whether the car has been involved in an accident that required repairs.
A vehicle's speedometer readings: Vehicle history reports are not going to include information on how fast the car has actually traveled.
Information about vehicle emissions: Besides showing emissions test results if any exist, these reports don't provide specific details about vehicle emissions.
Cleanliness: Vehicle history reports do not show information about how clean a vehicle is or has been. It also does not show if the previous owner was a smoker or left any stains on the interior of the vehicle.
Why damage occurred: Vehicle history reports do not detail the reasons why damage may have occurred to a vehicle, such as whose fault an accident was or how fast the vehicle was traveling when it incurred damage.
Personal information about previous owners: Although some information is provided about the previous owners of vehicles, there is no personal information included. This means there are no phone numbers, names, or email addresses listed for the previous owners of the vehicles.
What Are the Advantages of a Vehicle History Report?
Here are some of the main advantages of getting this type of report:
Aggregates Data
This report is an aggregation of local, state, and federal information about a vehicle. These types of reports may be available separately, but the vehicle history report provides all this information in one place. This saves you time, hassle, and money.
Provides Peace of Mind
If you fall in love with a vehicle and want to purchase it, requesting a vehicle history report can give you the peace of mind required to finalize the purchase. This is because these reports can confirm your belief that a vehicle is in good condition, has a great service history, and has no other outstanding issues. Confident sellers should have no hesitancy in providing this report to you for this purpose.
Protects Your Investment
Auto accidents are one of the leading causes of a decline in the value of a given vehicle, so checking for accidents and other issues before purchasing can protect your vehicle's value in the future.
Gives Information Related to Current Issues
If you're experiencing issues with your current vehicle, you can get a report of your car's past to find out what work has been done and if any outstanding repair issues might relate to your current problems. This information can be extremely valuable when you bring your car in for repairs. Experts can analyze this information to determine which repairs are essential to extend the life of your vehicle.
Shows the Vehicle's Mileage
These reports show the specific miles a vehicle has been driven, which gives a more accurate look at how much your vehicle has been used and how many services it has had over the years. They can also show if the odometer reading is inaccurate.
Determines If a Vehicle Is Worth the Asking Price
This type of report can show important details about a car's history that can inform your decision to make an offer. If the seller is asking too much money for a vehicle, you may be able to counteroffer by using the information in the report.
What Should I Do After Getting a Vehicle History Report?
Here are some steps you can take after getting a vehicle history report but before making a purchasing decision:
1. Read Online Reviews About the Vehicle
Reading online reviews about the make and model of the vehicle you are considering can be a helpful next step to take after getting a vehicle's history report. These reviews can give you insight into the overall performance and safety of the vehicle. It's important to note that this information is about the make and model in general, not your specific vehicle.
2. Take a Test Drive
Driving a vehicle allows you to assess its current condition and performance. You can determine many things, such as whether or not the transmission is operating smoothly, if the vehicle pulls to one side or another, and if there's any hesitation when you accelerate.
3. Look for Signs of Damage
Cars that have been in an accident will show signs of repair work or replacement parts on the body and underneath. You might notice that a door doesn't close properly, the paint is mismatched, or certain parts have been replaced with aftermarket ones.
4. Get a Pre-Purchase Inspection (PPI)
Now you're ready for the most important step—a PPI by an expert mechanic. The mechanics at an expert repair shop will be able to see things that you would probably fail to notice on your own or that a seller has tried to conceal. For example, they can put the vehicle on a lift and look in all the nooks and crannies, ensuring there are no leaks (or any leaks a seller told you about are as minor or major as they claim), parts in need of immediate replacement, and more.
Are Inspections Essential Before Buying a Used Car?
It's not always a requirement to get a PPI done before buying a used car but doing so can provide important information about how the vehicle is performing. This extra knowledge can help you decide if a used car is worth purchasing, or if you should negotiate for repair costs. It's also wise to have a PPI done when buying an older car or truck. This, in addition to a vehicle history report, can give you enough information to make confident and informed purchasing decisions.
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