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Step 1
Ask the seller of the vehicle to provide you with a Carfax history report. All reputable car dealerships do this automatically. If you are dealing with a dealership that refuses to provide a Carfax history report, buy your can somewhere else. If you are dealing with a private seller, you may need to get the Carfax vehicle report yourself. More on this later.
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Step 2
Check the VIN number of the used vehicle. This is the Vehicle Identification Number located in the lower driver's side corner of the car's windshield. The VIN number stays with the vehicle throughout its life. It does not change when the car is sold, is registered under another name, or registered in another state.
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Step 3
Compare the VIN number from the vehicle to the VIN number on the Carfax history report. Be sure to check carefully since VIN numbers are very long. Confirm that the report is talking about the specific brand, style, and year of the vehicle.
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Step 4
Go to the Carfax website if you need to find the Carfax history report yourself or want to confirm the information that was given to you. A link is provided below in the Resources section. Enter the VIN number to get the information.
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Step 5
Examine the data carefully. Be suspicious of a vehicle that has had a lot of owners, or one that came from an area where there was a lot of flooding. Many flooded cars are cleaned up and sold in other parts of the country.
Comments
davidv1127 said
on 7/5/2009 I will keep this in mind once we buy our first car!
mfrussell said
on 6/21/2009 Great info! 5* and a recommend!
mweise said
on 6/21/2009 This is information I really needed. Great article, thanks so much!
marthareggie said
on 6/18/2009 This is valuable information. I really did not know this; I bet many people are unaware of this. One thing for sure, this could save people unneccessary headaches. To purchase a used car, and then find out later that it is junk would truly be a headache. Rating: 5*