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Are Vehicle History Reports Worth It?

A car may be one of the biggest investments you make in your lifetime. Some people will go for a $500 “beater” and others might choose a Ferrari. Chances are, your choice will be somewhere in between.  You’ll be looking for an option that fits your budget and lifestyle. The best way to make sure you get a great car or truck for a great price is to buy used, but buying used comes with risks. Who owned the car before you? Was it well-maintained? Was it involved in any accidents?

Once upon a time, all of us at Service King Bell Rd in Phoenix, AZ had no way of knowing, including everyone else. But now--we have the Internet.

All you need to know to research a car is the Vehicle Identification Number or VIN. Many dealerships offer a vehicle history report for free, but you can look up any car yourself for a small fee, which is especially handy when buying from a private seller. The most popular companies that offer this service are Carfax, AutoCheck, the National Insurance Crime Bureau, and the National Motor Vehicle Title Information Systems.

It seems like a great resource, but as with everything you read on the internet, you need to dig a little deeper to be sure that what you’re reading isn’t “fake news.”

Consumer Reports recently discovered that it might not be the vehicle history reporting companies stretching the truth, but rather it’s those reporting the damage who are failing to tell the whole story. For example, some cars that should have been reported as a total loss simply weren’t. Dishonest salesmen may try to fix vehicles and re-title them.

The two companies that seem to do the best job when dealing with these frustrations are Carfax and AutoCheck. Both companies promise to buy any vehicle that was purchased using a false report (in most circumstances), and both companies are typically able to detect instances of “title washing.”

So, in our humble opinion, vehicle history reports are worth the investment, especially when they are bought from companies that really seem to have the consumer’s best interest at heart, like Carfax and AutoCheck. Reports are also useful because they will give you an idea of the car’s history, if not the entire picture, and it’s good to know if there is anything listed that might depreciate the value of the car if you were to sell it yourself in the future.

There are other steps that you can take to be sure the used vehicle you’re planning to buy is in tip-top shape. For example, having the vehicle inspected by an unbiased mechanic and making sure that you test drive the vehicle.

If you do your homework, your investment is sure to be sound.

Service King Bell Rd in Phoenix, AZ 85032 

Sources: AAA and National Motor Vehicle Title Information Systems

 

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