Reviewing a car history report is fundamental when buying a used car. A vehicle history check can reveal many essential details about a car’s history, like road traffic accidents, title status, and any red flags that could affect its value, reliability, or safety.
Not all vehicle history reports offer the same depth of information, so choosing a reliable VIN history report provider can help discover hidden issues before finalizing your purchase. In this guide, we’ll break down the key warning signs to look out for when analyzing a car report by VIN.
1. Salvage or Rebuilt Title
The vehicle identification number (VIN) can tell you whether a car has a salvage title or a rebuilt title, both indicating severe damage.
Why It’s a Red Flag
- Structural Weakness: Vehicles with a salvage title may have been previously damaged in major accidents, making them more dangerous to drive.
- Insurance Issues: Many insurance providers are reluctant to cover cars with salvage titles.
- Resale Challenges: Future buyers may be wary of purchasing a vehicle with an accident history.
👉 Vehicle Condition Rating – Understand how vehicles are rated.
2. Odometer Rollback
A VIN check can highlight odometer rollback, a type of fraud where mileage is artificially lowered to make a car seem newer than it is.
Why It’s a Red Flag
- Deceptive Wear and Tear: Lower mileage readings can hide extensive use.
- Maintenance Issues: Falsely listed mileage can lead to missed service intervals.
- Legal Risks: Rolling back an odometer is illegal and punishable by law.
3. Accident History and Airbag Deployment
A vehicle VIN history report will tell you whether a car has been involved in multiple or severe accidents. Look for airbag deployment records, as their use can indicate major collisions.
Why It’s a Red Flag
- Compromised Safety: Previous accidents could compromise frame integrity and, thus, overall safety.
- Recurring Repairs: Accident damage can lead to recurring mechanical problems and repairs to fix them.
- Insurance Costs: Vehicles with severe accidents may have higher insurance costs.
4. Flood, Fire, or Hail Damage
A car history check should show whether a vehicle has suffered flood, fire, or hail damage. Such cars may look okay initially but can cause problems down the line.
Why It’s a Red Flag
- Electrical Failures: Flooded cars often suffer from electrical failures, e.g., wiring and computer issues.
- Corrosion Risks: Exposure to water can cause corrosion risks like rust and, thus, long-term damage.
- Hidden Costs: Repairs for these damages are expensive and sometimes ineffective.
5. Title Washing
A history by VIN number search can uncover title washing, an illegal and fraudulent practice where a car’s accident history is concealed by moving it across state lines.
Why It’s a Red Flag
- Concealed Damage: Title washing conceals essential damage and safety concerns.
- Legal Risks: If discovered, ownership could be legally challenged.
- Difficult Resale: Future buyers may find the fraud and reject the vehicle, leading to a difficult or potentially impossible resale.
6. Open Recalls
A vehicle history check will tell you if a car has any open recalls issued by the vehicle manufacturer or the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
Why It’s a Red Flag
- Safety Risks: Open recalls often indicate safety risks like faulty brakes, airbags, or engine issues.
- Potential Costs: While recalls are usually undertaken for free, repairs may take a while and cost you in the long run.
- Resale Value: Cars with unresolved recalls may lose their value and, thus, be difficult to sell.
7. Lien or Financial Records
If a vehicle history search flags a lien, this means that the previous owner has an unpaid loan.
Why It’s a Red Flag
- Ownership Issues: A lender may legally own the car until the loan is cleared, causing ownership issues in the interim.
- Financial Liability: You could be financially liability for settling any debt on the car.
- Registration Delays: Vehicles with outstanding liens may cause frustrating registration delays.
8. Taxi, Rental, or Fleet Use
A vehicle VIN report should show whether a car was used in the past as a taxi, rental, or fleet vehicle.
Why It’s a Red Flag
- Higher Wear and Tear: Fleet and rental cars experience heavy usage, causing higher wear and tear.
- Unknown Driving History: These vehicles may have been driven aggressively, causing structural issues.
- Lower Resale Value: Buyers may avoid ex-rental or taxi cars.
9. Multiple Owners in a Short Period
A search vehicle history check should tell you the number of previous owners. Frequent ownership changes can be a red flag, especially over a short period.
Why It’s a Red Flag
- Unreliable Car: Frequent resales may indicate an unreliable car with persistent mechanical problems.
- Maintenance Neglect: Some owners may have neglected maintenance.
- Possible Hidden Issues: The car could have hidden issues that previous sellers did not disclose.
10. Inconsistent Vehicle Information
A vehicle car history report should align with the car’s actual features. Any inconsistent vehicle information could indicate fraud.
Why It’s a Red Flag
- Possible VIN Cloning: Criminals might swap a stolen VIN.
- Mismatched Features: The actual car might not align with the features advertised.
- Legal Issues: Registering a vehicle with incorrect details can cause legal issues.
How to Get a Vehicle History Report
To avoid these red flags, you must know how to get a vehicle history report from a reliable source. Look for the best free vehicle history report provider or a VIN lookup tool to run a VIN search before buying a car.
👉 Free VIN History Report Sample – See a sample report before you buy.
Steps to Protect Yourself
- Check Vehicle History: Always get a vehicle report from a reliable provider before purchasing.
- Run a VIN or License Plate Search: Verify details with a VIN decoder or a free VIN check.
- Compare Multiple Reports: Cross-check information from different auto history report providers.
- Inspect the Car in Person: Look for signs of damage, repainting, or mismatched parts.
- Consult a Mechanic: A professional inspection can confirm the vehicle info matches the car report.
- Verify Recalls with the Highway Traffic Safety Administration: Ensure no open recalls are active.
Final Thoughts
These precautions will allow you to get details of your vehicle’s history and avoid costly mistakes that could cause long-term headaches. A thorough history check ensures you don’t fall victim to hidden red flags when buying a used car.
