Specific Vehicle History Reports Using VINs
The Internet is a wonderful tool for used car shoppers, with several Web sites offering vehicle history reports to the public. These reports use a car’s VIN to tell you if the vehicle has been flooded, salvaged, junked or used as a taxi, for example. You can also check the odometer for accuracy. The Web site www.carfax.com offers a single vehicle history report for $20, which is helpful if you’ve narrowed your search to one vehicle. If you’re a fickle shopper, Carfax offers 30 days of unlimited vehicle history reports for $25. The Web site www.autocheck.com, a division of Experian, provides a similar service for a similar price, though they offer 60 days of unlimited vehicle history reports instead of only 30. The popular online auction site, www.ebay.com, also offers vehicle history reports to eBay Motors users.
Vehicle History Reports on Overall Reliability
After you’ve run a specific vehicle history report, you should check a vehicle’s general reliability rating. Consumer Reports compiles data about the reliability of used cars, listing the ratings in their annual Used Car Buying Guide. You should check your local library, since most libraries carry a subscription. MSN Autos and J.D. Power also provide useful vehicle history reports on reliability on their respective Web sites, www.autos.msn.com, and www.jdpower.com.
Vehicle History Reports on Crash Testing
One of today’s most important criteria for car buying is safety. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety provides vehicle history reports related to the safety of today’s most popular cars on their Web site: www.highwaysafety.org. The IIHS uses an offset frontal crash test to simulate two vehicles hitting each other with a 40 percent frontal overlap, which is a very good test of how a vehicle’s structure will protect its occupants. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration also performs crash testing on cars and posts the results on their Web site: www.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/testing/ncap. NHTSA crashes cars into a rigid, flat barrier at 35mph, which is a good test of seatbelts and air bags but not a very demanding test on the structure of the vehicle itself.
If you want to see vehicle history reports relating to real-world crash data, you can refer to a different section of the IIHS Web site, www.iihs.org/vehicle_ratings/ictl/ictl.htm.
Vehicle History Reports on Theft
Before you spend a lot of money on a car, you might be interested in vehicle history reports on theft. Each year, NHTSA compiles data on how many vehicles were produced vs. how many of those vehicles were stolen, giving you an idea of the likelihood of theft. Your insurance company may also be able to provide you with information on specific vehicle history reports.
Vehicle History Reports on Depreciation
Not all vehicles hold their original value well. In fact, some vehicles are worth only 25 percent of their original value after three years, while others retain over 60 percent. Vehicle history reports on depreciation can help you decide which cars are better investments. The Web site, www.cars.com, provides rankings of the best and worst values in used vehicles.
By Aaron McCullough