What Is an Autocheck?

AutoCheck is a service that provides information about a vehicle's history. It makes available a report for potential buyers of a vehicle that indicates information about accidents, prior ownership and mileage. By purchasing the report, the buyer may be able to avoid purchasing a vehicle that has suffered previous damage.

Available Information

An AutoCheck report includes information about the titling and registration of vehicles. It will also indicate whether a vehicle has had any previous damage through collisions, floods or fires and whether it has been salvaged. Accurate mileage information can be obtained so the buyer can be aware of any odometer rollbacks.

Not Included

Reports are only available for cars and light truck, not for motorcycles or recreational vehicles. Reports are also not available for vehicles that were not manufactured for markets outside the United States or Canada. Due to privacy issues, names of previous vehicle owners are not provided.

Accessibility

The AutoCheck report is sent via email once the order is completed. The only information needed about the vehicle when placing the order is its vehicle identification number (VIN).

Method

Information about vehicles is obtained through sources such as state Departments of Motor Vehicles, auto dealers and auto auctions. All information is gathered in compliance with the federal Drivers Privacy Protection Act.

Score

After all available information about a vehicle is obtained, a rating score is assigned to it. Several factors go into the rating of a vehicle, including how old it is, the mileage, the number of previous owners, how it was used, such as a rental car or a taxi and the accident history. A score is assigned based on 100, meaning 100 would be the highest score a vehicle could attain.

References

• AutoCheck
• Car Buying Tips