Buyer guides
Used car buyer guides
Straightforward, practical guides on checking a used vehicle's history, title, mileage and safety records before you buy. Every guide ends with a VIN check so you can act on what you just read.
Damage & history
How to check car accident history
Combine VIN damage records with a panel-gap and paint inspection to find repaired collisions.
Read guideHow to check for odometer rollback
Build a mileage timeline from the VIN and read the wear that a rewritten dash cannot hide.
Read guideHow to check a car for flood damage
Spot cleaned-up storm cars through title brands, corrosion patterns and electrical faults.
Read guideTitle & ownership
What is a salvage title?
What each title brand means for value, insurance and safety — and how title washing works.
Read guideSalvage title vs rebuilt title
The difference between the two brands and what each one does to insurance, financing and resale.
Read guideDoes lemon law apply to used cars?
When used-car lemon protection applies, and how manufacturer buybacks show up on the title.
Read guideHow to check for a lien on a car
Find an outstanding loan before you pay, and structure a private sale so the debt clears.
Read guideHow to check if a car is stolen
Five steps to verify theft status, from the VIN check to asking the police to run NCIC.
Read guideValue & trust
Safety & data
How to check vehicle recalls by VIN
Find open safety recalls for your exact VIN and book the free dealer repair.
Read guideVIN decoder: what each character means
Break a 17-character VIN into manufacturer, model, engine, plant and serial data.
Read guideWhat a free VIN check includes
Exactly which findings you see before paying, and which records sit behind the report.
Read guideLicense plate lookup
Find a vehicle from its plate when the seller has not shared the VIN yet.
Read guideHow to check EV battery health
Measure state of health, confirm the battery warranty from the VIN and read charging history.
Read guideCheck a vehicle now
Enter a 17-character VIN or a license plate. The first findings are free.