How to Get Car Facts

Getting car facts is an important step to buying a car.

Purchasing a car is a big investment so it is important to get all the facts, whether the car is new or used. Since a used car has been owned previously, it is necessary to get all the information about the car's history. Car facts can tell you certain things about the car, including rollover ratings, crash tests, past owners for used cars, accident reports, flood damage, odometer rollbacks and lemon damage. Ensure peace of mind when you research a car's history before making a purchase.

Instructions

1. Visit Safercar.gov to find car facts information if you are purchasing a new car. This website provides information about crash tests that are done prior to new cars being put on the market, as well as other pertinent information.

2. Visit the CarFax website. CarFax provides vehicle history reports, including past accidents, mileage, odometer problems, previous owners and a lemon report.

3. Get car facts on the Auto Check website. Enter the vehicle identification number. This is a special number that identifies individual vehicles. The VIN can be found either on your title, vehicle registration or on the dashboard close to the windshield. Auto Check tells you whether specific vehicles have been salvaged, ravaged by fire or rebuilt.

Tips & Warnings

• Be aware that some websites may charge a fee to get car facts reports. Fees vary by company.

References

• Car Buying Tips: How To Buy A Used Car & Avoid Scams
• Samarins: How to check used car history records by the VIN number

Resources

• SaferCar.gov: Safety information
• CarFax
• AutoCheck: AutoCheck History Reports