How to Check a Car's History Online
When buying a used car, you don't have to assume that a car dealer is telling you the truth about the vehicle you want to purchase. Instead, you can use a car's Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) to obtain information online about that vehicle's history. This history will include whether the car had ever been totaled, stolen or suffered flood damage. It can also verify the odometer reading on the vehicle, provide inspection reports and service and repair records and also let you know if any bank or financial institution still had a lien on the vehicle.
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Instructions
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Carfax
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Obtain the VIN for the car you want. You can find the VIN on a little silver sticker affixed on the car's windshield; or you can get the VIN from the car's title. The VIN will always contain 17 numbers or letters.
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Navigate to the Carfax homepage. See Resource 1.
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Enter the VIN in the text box in the center of the page. Click the "Get the Carfax" button.
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Type your name and billing address into the text boxes provided. Select your credit card type from the drop down menu next to "Card Type." Type in your credit card number and expiration date.
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Read the "Customer Agreement." Click the "Process My Order" button to see the vehicle history report for the car in question.
DMV.org
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Navigate to the "Vehicle History Reports" page of the DMV.org website. See Resource 2.
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Enter the VIN of your car into the text box in the center of the page. Click the "Search" button.
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Select the type of car report you wish to purchase.
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Type your name and billing address into the text boxes provided. Enter your credit card number and card expiration date.
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Click the "Submit Your Order" button to see the vehicle history report for the car in question.
Auto Lemon
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Navigate to the "Vehicle History" page of the Auto Lemon website. See Resource 3.
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Click the "Free VIN Check" button in the right side of the page.
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Enter the VIN in the text box and click "Enter."
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Purchase a Vehicle History Report, if desired, by clicking the "Buy Now" button.
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Select the type of report you wish to purchase. Type your name and billing address into the text boxes provided. Enter your credit card number and card expiration date. Click the "Submit Your Order" button to see the vehicle history report for the car in question.
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Tips & Warnings
Your state's Department of Motor Vehicles may also provide a vehicle history report.
A vehicle history report might not include enough information to help you make an informed decision when buying a used car. You might also want to consider paying a trusted mechanic to inspect the car before you buy it.
References
Resources
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