Running a Report Before You Buy or Sell

Running a Vehicle History Report Before Buying or Selling

Whether you're buying or selling a car, getting a vehicle history report can be an extremely important tool in making sure you're getting what your paying for, or similarly, assuring your buyer that your car is in tip-top shape.

VHRs for Buyers

Purchasing a used car can be a risky endeavor, which is why you want to be as prepared for the process as possible. Besides doing the research to find a car that's suitable to your needs, you'll also want to do your best to make sure the vehicle is safe and reliable. Keep in mind—someone is selling this car for a reason, so it's best to make sure that reason isn't something you'll regret down the road.

Our suggestion is to order a vehicle history report for any vehicle you are considering—it can give you the added confidence to make a well-informed decision when making a used car purchase. By process of elimination, make your decisions based on what you find on the VHRs. If you aren't comfortable with the findings, don't purchase the vehicle. It's pretty simple.

Some of the things you'll find on a VHR include:

  • Vehicle registrations.
  • Odometer readings.
  • Lemon history.
  • Total loss accident history.
  • Structural damage.
  • Services & repairs.
  • Vehicle usage.
  • Recall information.
  • Accident indicators (such as airbag deployment).
  • Title information (including salvaged or junked titles).

For more helpful tips, check out our guide to paperwork for buying a car.

VHRs for Sellers

A vehicle history report can also be beneficial for sellers. Whether you're a private seller or a dealer, a VHR for the vehicle(s) you're selling not only helps you establish a good reputation, it actually helps you sell the vehicle by giving potential buyers added confidence that they are making an informed decision.

If the VHR is free of all blemishes or questionable content, what better way to gain the buyer's confidence than to present them with a VHR? And in the event that there is some out-of-the-ordinary information on the report, you can explain it to the buyer directly and ease their concerns.

You can order a vehicle history from our approved partner. For more information about paperwork associated with selling a vehicle, visit our helpful guide.

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