If you’re going to invest thousands of dollars into buying a new car, you need to do your research. This is especially true for used vehicles that have been in someone else’s possession for years. Even if a car looks like it’s fine, you don’t know what kind of damage it could have. Many types of damage aren’t immediately apparent and take some mileage added to the vehicle to become clear.

As used car dealers we’ve heard countless examples of people buying a used car only to have problems appear a week or two after they’ve purchased it. The worry potential buyers have about these kinds of hidden issues popping up can make them hesitant about buying a used car, but with the right research you can find all the information you need to make a selection and buy with confidence.

That’s why the first thing you need to do once you’re interested in a used car is to look at its vehicle history report.

What Is a Vehicle History Report

A vehicle history report is a document that compiles information about a car’s past from sources like insurance companies, mechanics, and car registration. Their purpose is to show everything a potential buyer might want to know about the car’s history before they buy it.

Vehicle reports can contain a range of information depending upon how many reporting sources their are for its history, so the more times it visited a mechanic or an insurance claim was filed for it the longer and more detailed the report will be.

Although the report doesn’t tell you the current condition of the car, it can help you get a good idea of its value and what the condition may be based on its past. It’s essentially a type of inspection you can do without having to take the car to a mechanic to inspect it in person (although that’s often a good idea).

What’s On a Car History Report

There are a couple of vital points of information on a car history report that you’ll want to look out for including:

Accidents: If the car was in a serious accident it will most likely have been reported to an insurance company and get listed on the vehicle’s history. Depending on the type of accident this might be a reason to stay away from a car. However, some smaller accidents might appear on the report too, so you want to look into what kind of accident it was rather than immediately disregard a car you were interested in because of a reported accident.

Useage: You don’t know who owned the car before you or what they were doing with it. But the history report will show how many times it’s changed hands and sometimes what it was used for as well. If the car was leased out or registered as a taxi those types of things will appear on the report.

Maintenance Records: An important thing to factor in when buying any used car is how the car was maintained. A car with more mileage might still run better and be a better buy if it was maintained properly. Maintenance records aren’t always reported, but if the car was maintained at a dealership it most likely will appear on the report.

Get A Vehicle History Report

The easiest way to get access to a report is to buy an individual report from an online vehicle history service. Carfax, one of the most popular services, offers a single report for $39.99. AutoCheck offers reports for $24.99. However, if you’re shopping and looking at different cars it may be a good idea to get a short term subscription for these services since you’ll be checking multiple cars. Carfax offers unlimited reports for 60 days for around $50.

Although it can seem somewhat pricey for a simple report it can save you thousands in the long run by helping avoid damaged cars. Once you’ve looked into the car you’re interested in you’ll be on your way to a carefree purchase.

Shopping for a used Lexus in NJ? Then shop at Royal Motors Inc. for the best deals in NJ! We accept all trades regardless of condition and with bank financing starting at 2.89% we’re able to accommodate most credit needs. Speak to our friendly team of experts at (856) 346-2121 or visit our location in Voorhees, NJ today!