What a VHR Reveals

 

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What is a VIN (Vehicle Identification Number)?

EACH REPORT HAS THE FOLLOWING INFO: Title Check Odometer Check Problem Check Vehicle Info AutoCheck Score Event Check Click here for a full sample AutoCheck report No VIN? No Problem! If you don't have the VIN or want to search the history of more than one car, order the AutoCheck Unlimited Vehicle History Reports >> option and access unlimited vehicle history reports for 60 days.

VHR Elements

The definition of a vehicle history report (VHR) is all in the name―a report that gives a potential buyer information about the history of a particular vehicle. You can obtain a VHR using the vehicle's identification number (VIN). Pretty simple, right?

At the same time, the information you receive about a vehicle's history is anything but simple, and is downright necessary today. Obtaining a VHR from CARFAX is a vital step to your car-buying process.

Whether you choose to purchase a pre-owned vehicle from a dealership or a private seller, a CARFAX VHR gives you the essential information you need to make a smart purchase. A VHR will include a vehicle description, and depending on the type of report, might check for other elements and problems. Advanced reports could also include a full history of the vehicle, such as whether it was ever in a flood or used as a taxi.

Title Check

The vehicle's title, often nostalgically referred to as a "pink slip," shows vehicle ownership. Although the U.S. Driver's Privacy Protection Act (DPPA) doesn't allow the names of previous owners to be revealed, a title check tells you how many owners the car had, and crucial information about abandonment, damage, and any rebuilds the vehicle has undergone.

A title check from CARFAX reveals whether the vehicle you're considering has ever suffered fire or hail damage, as well as if it has been deemed salvaged, considered a total loss by an insurance company, or been rebuilt. You can also find out if the vehicle has ever been registered and titled in an area prone to storms or other severe weather conditions that cause property damage.

When you know this information about a vehicle, it can help protect you from problems with it in the future. A salvaged or rebuilt vehicle might never give you a headache, but at least you will have the choice of knowing about it before you buy the vehicle. Purchasing a vehicle with that kind of history is your decision; yet you should at least have the option to make informed decision. A CARFAX title check gives you that option.

Odometer Check

Odometer checks can report any rolling back of the odometer, as well as whether or not the odometer is broken, and could therefore have unrecorded mileage. An odometer check from CARFAX can also let you know if it's possible that the vehicle actually has more mileage than the odometer is mechanically able to record.

Car buyers are attracted to vehicles with low mileage, and unfortunately, some people will tamper with a vehicle's odometer to make it seem as if the vehicle hasn't been driven as much as it actually has. If you're under the wrong impression about the vehicle's mileage, you might not properly maintain it, which could lead to costly repairs.

Problem Check

A problem check is similar to a title check. You will find out if the vehicle has suffered water, frame, or any other kind of damage, as well as if the vehicle has ever been recycled, sold at a salvage auction, or used as a crash test vehicle. A VHR problem check will also disclose whether a vehicle was once a lemon and bought back by the manufacturer.

Additional Vehicle Information

A VHR from CARFAX provides additional information about a particular vehicle, including whether it was ever used as a driver education car, a taxi, or a police vehicle, or had any other government use. You can also find out if the vehicle was ever part of a fleet, leased, or rented. Want to know if it has ever been repossessed, has a lien, was ever reported stolen, or needed a duplicate or corrected title? The VHR will tell you.

When you have this additional knowledge, you can make an even more informed decision. Perhaps you don't want to purchase a vehicle that was used to carry thousands of people around a city, such as a taxi. Maybe you don't want to own a van that once transferred arrested individuals and convicted criminals to and from jails and prisons. Sure, these pre-owned vehicles might come at great prices, but they might also come with a lot of mileage and history. You deserve to know.

How to Read a Vehicle History Report

Once you receive a VHR, you'll want to know how to decipher it. Learn to read one with our special Reading a Vehicle History Report section.