If you’ve ever done any shopping for used cars you’ve probably heard about a vehicle history report, but do you know what this is or what it can do for you?

Buying used cars can be tricky. How do you know what type of condition the car is in or who owned it before you? This is all in the vehicle history report, and it’s all available to you.

What’s Included in a Vehicle History Report

Vehicle history reports are full of information. You can see all of the previous owners and how they used the car, you can see if it was ever in an accident and if it was, what type of damage it suffered, and you can see the title information. This is important when buying a used car because you want to know if there are any liens held on the vehicle.

A vehicle history report will also show you all of the service records. This means all the regular maintenance and if there were any recalls on the year, make, and model. If there was a recall, you can check to make sure it was taken care of before you decide to purchase it.

How Do I Get a Vehicle History Report?

It’s easier than you may think to get a vehicle history report. The first thing you want to do is get the VIN. This is the vehicle identification number. It’s a 17-digit number, and you can usually find it on the lower left side of the windshield. It’s also listed on the registration and it’s on any insurance documents.

Once you have the VIN you have some options for getting reports. Carfax is a popular choice. If you’re looking at used cars at reputable dealerships, they will often offer a Carfax as part of their used car benefits. AutoCheck, and instaVIN are other options for getting history reports. If you’re not shopping at a dealership that’s offering it for free, it may cost you somewhere between $10 and $40.

It Got the Report, What’s Next?

Once you have the report and everything checks out. You don’t see any big red flags that make you want to run in the other direction, but there are still a few more steps you want to take before jumping into to buying used cars. Take it out for another test drive, even if you’ve already driven it. Remember, the history report will tell you a lot, but it doesn’t always tell the whole story. It only has the reported information. So, if a car was in an accident that wasn’t reported to the police or an insurance company, it may not show up.

Get the car inspected by a trusted mechanic or buy it from a trusted dealership. This will help ensure that it is in good condition. A vehicle history report is the first step in researching used cars, but it’s just one of the steps.