Vehicle History Report
How To Get a Vehicle History Report
A vehicle history report is an invaluable document if you are planning on buying or selling a vehicle. As a buyer, you can use a vehicle history report to determine if the vehicle you are thinking of purchasing is in good condition. On the other hand, if you are selling a vehicle, then a clean history report can help entice potential buyers. To begin running this vehicle report, you will need the complete 17 digit vehicle identification number, then you will want to find a reputable online vehicle record website that offers comprehensive vehicle history information. Next you will enter the VIN and confirm your results, double check that the make and model match. One wrong character can bring up an invalid search or a completely different automobile. Then review the report to make sure it lists all the important components such as the title status, previous accidents, recall information, odometer verification and if there are any known safety issues reported for that vehicle. These are all important items to look for on the report.
What is Included in a Vehicle History Report
A vehicle history report is a detailed account of a specific vehicle’s past. It has many utilities but is most commonly sought after by buyers and sellers of used vehicles. A vehicle’s identification number, or license plate number, is needed to run this report. The following items are commonly included in a vehicle history report.
- Vehicle manufacturer specifications and options. You will get a full breakdown of all the features of that vehicle, including when and where it was manufactured.
- Accident history of the vehicle, which typically only reports those accidents with claims. This will also reflect major accidents that cause the vehicle title to be classified as junk or salvaged.
- Vehicle title information which will verify if the vehicle title is clean, salvaged or junked. Many vehicles that have been in accidents or natural disasters, such as floods or hurricanes, may have caused severe damage to the vehicle and the vehicle title information will reflect this in the report.
- Odometer verification is a part of this report that basically says if the odometer reading is accurate or not. If it is not accurate, then this could bring down the value of the vehicle to a potential buyer. It’s good to look at this section in the vehicle report.
- Recalls and reported safety issues are typically part of this vehicle report as well. The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration will review vehicles and report them to national databases that are included in these vehicle reports.
- Service records may be a part of the history report if they were collected and reported. Many older vehicles will not have service records as they may not have been digitalized from old paper records.
- How many previous owners the vehicle has had, or when the last time the vehicle was sold. It depends on what vehicle record resource you’re using to obtain this report. Some of this information may not be available.
- Lien holder information which may say if the used vehicle is still bank owned. If this information is available in the report, it’s a good way to verify the legitimacy of the sale of the used vehicle. If the vehicle still has a lien holder on it, then that will need to be released or paid off before being able to transfer the title to a new owner.
It’s important to note that not all VIN checks will include the same type of information. A vehicle report from the NICB, for example, is designed to prevent the exchange of stolen vehicles, so it’s great if you want to make sure that the car in question wasn’t reported stolen. It’s good to first identify what type of vehicle information you are looking for so you can find the right resource to run a vehicle history report. Many people use more than one resource to verify the value and history of a used vehicle before making a purchase. You can also double check the vehicle VIN with the government resource SafeCar.gov which will let you know if there are any reported recalls or known safety issues.
Why Run a Vehicle History Report?
There are a variety of reasons that someone is interested in running a vehicle history report, the most common is for those looking to verify a used car they want to purchase. Here are some key reasons people want to run this report and what they want to verify:
- Looking up the accident history of a used car to make sure there are not hidden issues to know about such as a salvaged title, or a junked title. This can greatly affect the value of the vehicle and your ability to get it insured.
- Finding title information and what the title status is. If the title is clean then you have one less thing to worry about. If it is anything but clean then you have some concerns. There are a lot of fraudulent auto sales that happen every year.
- Flood or natural disaster damage is a very common issue with vehicles in the south. With hurricanes and severe weather, many vehicles get flooded and are then salvaged or junk status. A quick title check will give you some insights if the car has been some type of severe weather event.
- Odometer verification is another item that people look for in a vehicle’s history. If the odometer says it’s accurate then you’re good but if it says anything but that you may have no idea how many actual miles are on that vehicle. This can greatly change the value of a used car, truck or SUV.
- Maintenance and service history of a vehicle is another category that is important to look at. While not all reports will have this information available, you may also want to ask the previous owner of any service documents. The maintenance history can tell you if the previous owner(s) have kept the vehicle in good working order throughout it’s life. The service records may also let you know if there were any major mechanical issues that were fixed, which can also affect the true value of the vehicle.
- Finding the manufacturer specifications and options for that specific vehicle. The VIN will tell you all about the specific features installed from the manufacturer.
- Ownership history is another thing people look for. Was the used car owned by several owners or just one? Was the used car part of a rental car fleet? These are also factors look for when purchasing a used car. This information is subject to what is allowed and available in each state. Not all vehicle record resources offer access to ownership information.
It’s important to point out that not all this information is available for every vehicle. Vintage and classic vehicles may have limited vehicle history information available, not all the old paper records we transcribed to digital databases. There may also be restrictions on what information can be accessed, depending on state privacy laws and the DPPA. You must have a valid reason to access license plate owner information in accordance with state and federal regulations.
Checking The Vehicle History For Fraud
If you are looking to verify a purchase of a used vehicle and want to check for fraud, there are a couple key things to do. First, verify that the seller of the used car, truck or SUV is the actual owner. It is a red-flag if someone else is trying to sell you a vehicle that doesn’t belong to them. There are exceptions of course, such as a person having power of attorney for a relative. Another thing to watch out for is if the used vehicle price seems too good to be true, this is also a red-flag. You might have just scored the deal of the decade, or perhaps the car was in a flood and the title says “salvaged”. You can avoid this by checking the title status to see if its clean. Lastly, there is a free government resource to check if the vehicle has been stolen or an insurance claim made on it.. You can run an anonymous search through the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) with the 17 digit VIN associated with that used vehicle. Using this service will give you some peace of mind that the vehicle you want to purchase is legitimate. According to the NCIB in a September 2022 report, there were over 932,000 vehicle thefts in 2021, which means some of those hit the used car market. By using these few simple tips, you can quickly detect and avoid a fraudulent vehicle sale.
Vehicle History Report - Q&A
Can I lookup a vehicle history report online?
Yes, there are a multitude of motor vehicle website where you can lookup a vehicle's history. You will need the entire 17 digit VIN to run a vehicle history report, each vehicle has a unique VIN. The report should include the entire vehicle history, vehicle specs, accidents, recalls and safety warnings.Can I get a vehicle history report from the DMV?
No, the DMV does not offer this service, you will need to use a third party vehicle record website to access the full history of a vehicle.Can I run a VIN number that has fewer than 17 digits?
It is possible but difficult. All modern vehicles have 17 digits in their vehicle identification number and vehicles. Older vehicles such as classic or vintage vehicles have fewer and most online vehicle record resources do not have the ability to search the history of older vehicles. One reason for this is many older records did not get copied over to modern digital databases so some of the history of older vehicles may be lost.Before Comments
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Last Updated: 2023-03-02
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Looking to purchase a vehicle from my neighbor. He does not have a title, But I’m willing to take the chance on a solid project. I’m hoping to find the last registered original owner of the vin above hoping to build the car back to factory spec.Many thanks.
Set, in order to obtain any vehicle information from a license plate search you will need to go through the search procedure and read and select a valid reason for running your search. That said, you can run a vehicle history report on any vehicle that has a 17 digit VIN
i got this old car from a privet onder but he said he don’t know wher the title is i have cont 3 onders none of them knows wher the title is
Delbert, since this is a vintage car you’ll have difficulties looking up information on it with most online vehicle record resources. That said, you might want to reach out to the DMV directly about your inquiry, there may be a precedence for your situation.
why is it saying I have the wrong vin number
I’m looking for a car that was registered originally in 1969 Dodge Charger RT special edition registered to Michael D Gillian 1976
Driver’s license number and identification
Babatunde, can you please expand on your request and how this is relevant to your vehicle history report? We are happy to help if you can give us some more information
looking for mileages on title
i’m looking for my childhood car my dad amd mom owned 1976 4door sedan Chevrolet Nova owned from New 1976 till 1986 license plate California 951-FTP traded into dodge dealership for – 1986 dodge minivan Green with Rally Wheels tan brown interior 305 v8 if the car is still on the road i want to buy it back what a long shot car was last seen on a commerial in Yuba city 1986 for sell a real cream puff one owner used car comercial
I’m having a popping sound on the front of my car on the outside and my air conditioner does not cool good I\’ve had it checked several times I have heard that somebody said that it was in a wreck how do I find out if it was
You can see if the vehicle has a salvaged title, which is part of the vehicle history report, but it might not reveal an accident that did not total the car
Hello there My Cadillac Escalade Is Missing I have ownership and the Title, I need help locating my vehicle, I have the 17 digit vin number as well.
Tiffany, we are happy to assist you with running a vehicle history report or vehicle title search however if your vehicle was stolen then you will need to contact the police directly about this incident
We traded in a car at a dealership for $10,000.00 and also put $1,000.00 down. on a leased car. now the dealership says they have no record of us trading it in. so the balance of our leased car is &10,000 more then it should be. We have moved since we leased the new car from the dealership and have 2 Hugh storage spaces to go through to find the original paperwork. I can see that the put our old car up for sale the very next day. how can I prove that the took our car and did not credit us the 10,000 dollars
Barb, you will want to contact the DMV office in the state you previously lived in and verify what name is on the vehicle title. As far as the paperwork goes to prove that you were credited the $10k, it would be helpful for you to find the bill of sale paperwork so that you have evidence of your claim. If you feel foul play is at hand, you might want to contact your local police department and file a police report and/or contact an attorney for advise
I purchased a dirt bike/ motorcycle that I am needing to titled. When I bought it the owner said he had no title. How can I gain title to this bike?
James, we only have vehicle records for street legal vehicles. It’s fairly difficult to obtain a vehicle history report on a dirt bike or any off-road vehicle as they are not registered the same with the DMV as street legal vehicles
Is it possible to check if a used RV Trailer has been in an accident or disaster . If purchasing thru an RV dealer.
Karen, unfortunately our vehicle history reports do not cover RV trailers, boats or aircraft
I’m trying to find out where my title is after paying off the car. The Car Store in Piney Flats Tennessee, last ones that had it. They said that they mailed it, but where did they mail it to???? It was totalled in an accident. Only thing wrong was the side swiped passenger side and the right rear shock was broke. Still a great running car.
Edward, to obtain a copy of your Tennessee vehicle title you will need to reach out to the Tennessee DOR directly
I’m looking for a vehicle history report on a 1976 Honda CB550F there is no 17digit vin or plates how do I go about getting a history report for it?
Brandon, unfortunately this vehicle history report is not accessible with our vehicle record resources. You can contact your local DMV to inquire about running a vehicle history report on this older vehicle. Sometimes it is difficult to obtain information on older vehicles if their vehicle history was not entered into a centralized database
I am needing to speak to someone regarding trying to get some titles corrected. It seems their were some typos that the DMV have made. I have been calling 304-558-3900 and have been unsuccessful on reaching a live person.
Alicia, you will need to contact the DMV directly. During COVID there are typically longer wait times than normal to get someone on the phone. We are a public record website that has not affiliation to the motor vehicle department to request changes to your vehicle titles.
I am looking for a title search for said VIN
Victoria, if you plug your VIN into our search, you will have the option to purchase a vehicle history report. This report will also have the vehicle title information included which will tell you if the vehicle title is clean
We have a Kit built Classis that has a unique VIN. Only 7 characters long. How do we get a Vehicle History report?
Richard, you might want to contact the DMV about this. Most VIN lookup resources can only lookup vehicles in the last 30-40 years, those that have VINs with 17digits. Before then there were mostly paper records for vehicles and most of them did not get uploaded into the current vehicle databases.
I let a so called friend borrow my car and they went and did a abandoned title on it I\’ve got the bill of sale where i just bought it why in the world would I abandon it ? What steps do I need to do to recover it back before they destroy it
Zachary, it sounds like this was an intentionally unlawful act your friend pulled on you. If this is the case you might consider calling the police and filing a police report and then contacting the DMV with all the information you have on the vehicle and exactly what happened. Unfortunately this is a new one for us and we don’t have any recommendations we can offer you from our experience. Best of luck and please reach out if we can assist you with any future public record or vehicle record resources
Can I find out the current owners of the vehicle
Anita, typically vehicle history reports will have limited information about the owners of a vehicle. First however, you must go through our search and read and agree to the terms of the DPPA before receiving information about any vehicle. The other option is to make your inquiry directly with the DMV in your state
I had owned a 2012 Hyundai Elantra from 2012-2017 and do not have plate or Vin or reg info. I need to check the Conn state records to see when I cancelled the plates. The Lien was held by Santander – and I lived in the City of NEw London Ct at the time.
You will need to contact the Connecticut DMV directly to obtain a copy of your vehicle history report as well when you cancelled your license plate for that vehicle. You can visit the CT motor vehicle website for more information on how to go about obtain the information you’ve inquired about.
Would like to know how I can get a plate number for a moped scooter so I can get a plate made. It doesn\’t have a plate and the person I got it from claims he doesn\’t have it. Please get back to me asap
Unfortunately our vehicle history report will only work for cars, truck, SUVs and motorcycles. Your best option would be to visit the DMV in person and provide them with your registration, bill of sale or any other documentation you have on the moped, as well as your driver’s license. The DMV will be able to do a VIN search for you with and instruct you on what to do in order to obtain a license plate for your moped.
Your system does not work for vehicles that was made before the new vin system came out. Older have a shorter vin number than new cars.
That is correct. We can only run vehicle history reports by VIN that have a 17 digit alpha-numeric code
How can I find out info on a 1964 Cadillac with only 9 digit VIN?
Our vehicle report resources will only work for vehicle with 17 digits. You might consider contacting your local DMV office about this matter. A Vehicle History Report can reveal a lot about a vehicle. There is probably a long vehicle history for the Cadillac you mentioned since it’s over 50 years old.
Does your vehicle history reports include mileage records with title information?
Typically a vehicle history report will not include mileage reports unless there is a previous transfer of title. That is the only time we notice the mileage records being recorded. You can use our VIN Decoder below and see what information is available. If you don’t find what you’re looking for then you’ll want to check with the DMV for that specific vehicle history report information.
Vehicle VIN Decoder – Click Here To Get a Vehicle History Report Online
Does your reports offer previous vehicle history that includes owner information with the title check?
Our database resources only offer current vehicle owner information. We do have a Free VIN Check where you can obtain a vehicle history report.
Former army freind lied about not possesing my mustang. I was serving overseas upon my return I flew to Ohio to get it. Her husband & her made story about it. Found out recently online she still has it. Would like history of my 1968 mustang.
That’s an unfortunate turn of events and we’re sorry to hear that a friend has taken advantage of you. Check out our VIN Decoder where you can get a vehicle history report online. This should give you the vehicle history information you’re looking for.
My 2004 expedition Eddie Bauer.. 5.4 it run for 50 miles and then it quits. It stop running while driving. I can figure out what the problem is. Can you help?
You might check the fuel filter and battery and alternator to start. There are many possibilities as to why your vehicle quits on you but unfortunately it is not our expertise. This is really a question for a mechanic as we only provide vehicle history records and not maintenance records.
How do I search a 1966 Chevelle I sold in 1986? I have a VIN from my old 1984 registration card. Thanks
What information are you looking for that you did not find in the vehicle history report? Please let us know how we can further assist you
We do appreciate the time that you take to read this and respond to us at your earliest convenience it is a really big concern for both me and my wife thank you.
Both I and my wife had bought a car some lashes Volkswagen. Year 2013 Volkswagen Jetta SE and we see that there was something mentioned about. Possible Title Liens Reported. We don’t quite understand exactly what that means but it seems a little shaky to us would like to know more information about this car if you could please help us thank you!
Typically a title lien means that a bank or other financial institution has a lien on the vehicle and there might have been a loan taken out on the vehicle that hasn’t been paid back. This is unfortunately something we cannot lookup for you. Your best bet is to contact the DMV in your area and inquire about the potential Vehicle Title Lien.
That being said if you have the title to the Volkswagen and there is no lien holder listed then you might be in the clear. You might still want to follow up with the DMV in case a secondary loan was taken out on the equity on the vehicle.