Vehicle Records Answers

• Is a dealer supposed to provide me with a vehicle history report when I buy a used car?

  Dealers Not Required No, the dealer is not required to provide you with a vehicle history report when you buy a used car. In fact, you should never trust a vehicle history report from any seller, dealer or not, but rather should order one yourself to ensure its authenticity. Consumer protection ...

• Do I need a vehicle history report if a used car is still fairly new?

  Getting a Report for a Newer Car Yes, even though a used car is fairly new, there is still important information contained on a vehicle history report that you’ll need before you make your purchase. You might assume that a fairly new car won’t have a lot of history, so ordering a veh ...

• How long does it take for a new car to get a vehicle history report?

  New Cars and Reports It usually takes just a short period for a vehicle history report to be established on a car, but it depends on the company compiling the vehicle history report. Vehicle history reports are maintained by private companies that get their information from any number of sources ...

• What if a seller contradicts information in a vehicle history report?

  Contradicting Information It depends on the type of information being disputed, but generally, if a seller contradicts information in a vehicle history report, that’s a red flag. You should proceed with caution. Used car sellers may have an incentive not to be completely honest about the h ...

• How can I find out if a used car has ever had fire damage?

  To find out if a used car has ever had fire damage, you can hire a mechanic or auto body specialist to inspect the car before you buy it. In addition, you can always consult a vehicle history report, which will contain information about major damage and repairs to a used car, including fire dama ...

• Does a vehicle history report include flood damage?

  Flood Damage and Vehicle History Reports Yes, a vehicle history report may very well include flood damage, since vehicle history reports do contain information about major damage and repairs to a used car. Companies that maintain vehicle history reports obtain their information from a number of ...

• What should I look for in a vehicle history report when buying a used car?

  When buying a used car, you should examine those items in a vehicle history report that indicate the condition and market value of the car, such as title history, odometer readings, whether the car was ever used as a rental or fleet car, and accident and repair history. Making an Informed Decisi ...

• Can I trust a vehicle history report?

  Although there are instances of inaccuracies on vehicle history reports, you can almost always trust that the information on a vehicle history report is accurate. Trust When Buying a Used Car The better question may be: Can you trust buying a used car without first reviewing a vehicle history re ...

• Is there any way to tell if a used car has failed previous emissions tests?

  Yes, you can tell if a used car has failed previous emissions tests by checking with the DMV, or more conveniently, by reviewing a vehicle history report. Why Emissions Test Results Are Important Emissions tests tell us a lot about the condition and performance of a used car. Furthermore, states ...

• What items in a vehicle history report affect a used car’s value?

  Just about any item in a vehicle history report can affect a used car’s value and certainly can be used in negotiating the price. But usually, the most common items in a vehicle history report that affect a used car’s value are odometer readings, accidents, major repairs, salvage sta ...

• How can a vehicle history report help me avoid buying a lemon?

  A vehicle history report can help you avoid buying a lemon by providing you with all kinds of information about the history of the car so that you can better determine its condition and fair market value. Simply put, a lemon is a car that breaks down repeatedly in the weeks or months after a sal ...

• What if a car does not have a vehicle history report?

  Most cars have a vehicle history report, but there may be some cases when you’re not able to locate a vehicle history report on a used car. Usually if a car does not have a vehicle history report it’s because the car is too new, there’s been a clerical error, or there’s a ...

• What is the most valuable information in a vehicle history report?

  It’s difficult to say what the most valuable information in a vehicle history report is because it depends on the history of the car and what the vehicle history report contains. Information is Key Generally, any information that indicates the condition and market value of a car is valuabl ...

• What if I don’t have access to a mechanic when buying a used car?

  It’s probably a good idea to have your mechanic inspect any used car before you make a purchase, but in the event you don’t have access or can’t afford a mechanic, you can always consult a vehicle history report. Value of a Mechanic's Inspection Having a good mechanic inspect a ...

• Can I use a vehicle history report when negotiating the price of a used car?

  Yes, you can and should use a vehicle history report when negotiating the price of a used car. That is one of the primary reasons for ordering a vehicle history report. Negotiating Benefits When negotiating the price of a used car, you have to point to a number of criteria. The condition of the ...

• Is it okay to buy a used car without ordering a vehicle history report?

  It is not recommended that you buy a used car without ordering a vehicle history report. Why a Vehicle History Report is Valuable A vehicle history report contains all sorts of information about the history of a used car that you may not be able to find out otherwise, and the absence of this inf ...

• Should I ask a used car seller for a vehicle history report?

  Although it’s always a good idea to order a vehicle history report before purchasing a used car, it is not recommended that you obtain the vehicle history report from the seller. Rather, you should order it yourself to ensure its authenticity. We live in a software age where the average pe ...

• Do all cars have a vehicle history report?

  For the most part, all cars do have a vehicle history report. If a car is quite new, it may temporarily not have a vehicle history report, but within a short time most registered cars end up with a vehicle history report. Vehicle history reports are derived from information obtained from DMVs, i ...

• How would I know if a used car had flood damage?

  It’s possible you might never find out if a used car once had flood damage if the car was completely repaired. But you may be able to find out if a used car had flood damage by having a mechanic or auto body specialist examine the car or by reviewing a vehicle history report. Effects of Fl ...

• How can a vehicle history report help me determine the value of a used car?

  Vehicle History Report and Value A vehicle history report can help you determine the value of a used car by supplying you with essential information about the car’s history, such as odometer readings, major accidents and repairs, and if the car was ever salvaged. It would be a lot easier s ...