Checking a vehicle out

Introduction

Once you've found a suitable vehicle, you may to do a bit of research on the vehicle's condition.

There are three ways to check on a vehicle's condition remotely: its vehicle history report, checking for title brands, and a pre-purchase inspection.

Table of Contents

Vehicle history report
Title brands
Pre-purchase inspection

A vehicle history report is the first data point to look at when considering a vehicle purchase. It outlines:

• The vehicle's ownership history,
• Its service history, and
• Any accidents it's been in.

The most commonly used vehicle history report in the US is Carfax. Autocheck is another common report.

Dealers almost always offer a vehicle history report on their vehicles.  Some, but not all, private sellers offer a vehicle history report.

If you want a history report on a vehicle you’re considering, but the seller doesn’t offer one, they can be purchased for $20 - $40.

A title is a vehicle's official ownership document. If a vehicle has been damaged or is potentially unsafe to drive, a "brand" indicating the issue is placed on the title. A title brand stays with a vehicle no matter how many times it is sold.

Common title brands include:

• Salvage
• Junk
• Flood
• Hail

Even though vehicles with title brands can be significantly less expensive than vehicles without title brands, you should probably steer clear of them. The vehicle may be unsafe to drive, but it will also be difficult to sell.

A note on titles with a salvage brand:

Salvage vehicles are those that have been damaged to the extent that the cost of repairs exceeds a certain percentage of the vehicle's value, often due to accidents, natural disasters, or other incidents. These vehicles are typically deemed a total loss by insurance companies and are issued a salvage title. Typically, vehicles with salvage titles cannot be registered until their title is converted to “rebuilt.” Converting a salvage title into a rebuilt title after the vehicle has been repaired often requires physical inspection by law enforcement in the state where the vehicle will be registered.

History reports and title brands are a great way to start learning about a vehicle's history, but they don't necessarily tell you about the shape that the car is in right now.

For more information on a vehicle's current condition, you might want a pre-purchase inspection.

The following services will send a mechanic to your vehicle to test drive and inspect your vehicle. You'll get a comprehensive inspection report within 2-3 days for between $150 and $250.

• Lemonsquad
• Carchex
• Your Mechanic

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