What's a Vehicle History Report? Everything You Need to Know

Vehicle history reports are extremely valuable tools because they give you information about your car’s history in one simple document, saving you time and money while helping to protect the value of your vehicle. Learning about these reports and the benefits of requesting them may help you during any of your future car purchasing or selling experiences. For more advice about purchasing your next vehicle, read our buyer’s guide. If you’re ready to think about financing, complete the form below.

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What Is a Vehicle History Report?

A vehicle history report is a document that provides an overview of a vehicle’s ownership history and other information. You can request a vehicle history report from various sources including the dealer, your own insurance company or credit union, or a third-party provider. The report includes a variety of information about the used car that might affect its value and use, as well as any issues with the title.

Vehicle History Report vs. CARFAX

CARFAX is an automotive service providing data on vehicles for use primarily by auto dealers and the automotive industry in general. It offers a variety of products that are directly available to consumers in some markets. The difference between a vehicle history report and a CARFAX vehicle history report is that CARFAX only provides reported information, so some information may be missing or intentionally left out of these reports.

What Is Included in a Vehicle History Report?

Here is a list of items that may be included in a vehicle history report:

Service history: A vehicle history report includes a history of any service performed on the vehicle. This could include oil changes, fluid checks, and brake pad replacements.Accident history: A vehicle history report includes information about the accident history, including specific accidents that have occurred involving the vehicle. It will include when the accident happened and whether it was reported to authorities.Service contracts: A vehicle history report includes information about any service contracts that exist on the vehicle as well as any remaining contract time.Odometer reading: A vehicle history report can be used to determine how many miles are actually on a car even if it doesn’t match up with the odometer reading provided by the seller or displayed by other sources.Salvage title: A vehicle history report can be used to find out if a car has a salvage title.Lemon history: Find out if the vehicle has been included in the manufacturer’s lemon law program.Title issues: A vehicle history report will provide information about any issues with the title of the car and when they occurred. For example, if there’s a lien on the car or outstanding tickets that need to be paid before you get your new license plates, the report will show this information.VIN: Vehicle history reports include checking the car’s vehicle identification number. This can help you find any signs of tampering or forgery and confirm you are researching the correct used car.Inspections: This report shows if a vehicle is up-to-date on required inspections and provides information on the date of previous inspections and the results.Previous owners: These reports provide information about how many previous owners a vehicle has had and how long each owner had the vehicle. There is also information about how many miles each owner drove the vehicle.Registration history: This report shows the history of when the vehicle was registered, including the state of registration and each renewal.Flood and fire damage: A vehicle history report shows specific information about flood and fire damage, as these can have a huge effect on the value and performance of used cars.Location of sales: These reports also show details about the location of each sale. This can be important if you’re interested in where the vehicle originated and the weather conditions in which it was driven.

How Do You Get a Vehicle History Report?

There are numerous ways to get this type of report. Here’s a guide on each:

Dealership

You can request this type of report from the dealer you are purchasing the vehicle from. The dealer is able to order a report from the car manufacturer and get the report to you, or they can pull up the information on their computer once they have the VIN number.

Insurance Company

Your insurance company will be able to provide a vehicle history report once you purchase your new policy. You can also check other companies to see if they offer this service, especially if you’re doing comparison shopping for different auto insurance providers.

Credit Union

Many credit unions will offer a vehicle history report when you request one for purchase decisions. Since credit unions provide very competitive auto financing rates, it may be worth it to open an account for your next car loan.

When Do You Get a Vehicle History Report?

You may get a vehicle history report in various circumstances, such as when:

Buying a vehicle: You may request a report when buying a new or used car. This information can inform your purchasing decision, as many details about a car’s past may affect its value and performance in the future.Pushing for a higher insurance quote: If you’re shopping around for rates from different companies, one of the ways to make sure they’re giving you a fair quote is to request a vehicle history report. These reports can ensure that insurance providers are aware of the condition of your vehicle before providing a rate.Selling a vehicle: You may request a report when selling your used car for various reasons, including making sure there are no issues with the title and that it’s free of liens. You can also obtain information about any accidents that have occurred, service contracts on the car, and other information that is important to your buyers.Receiving a recall notice: You may receive a notice about an open recall on your vehicle. Before getting the recall taken care of, you can check for other outstanding recalls on your used car by requesting a vehicle history report.Having car troubles: If your car is having specific issues, you may request this type of report to find out more about the issue. Experienced repair shops can also use this information to make the best decisions for your vehicle.

What Is Not Included in a Vehicle History Report?

Here are several items that are not included in this type of report:

Certain types of intentionally missing information: If a previous owner of a vehicle intentionally hid an accident, it is possible that this information may not appear on the report. Body damage: A vehicle history report is not going to include information about minor dents and scratches, dings, and other cosmetic damage. It is more concerned with whether the car has been involved in an accident that required repairs.A vehicle’s speedometer readings: Vehicle history reports are not going to include information on how fast the car has actually traveled.Information about vehicle emissions: Besides showing emissions test results if any exist, these reports don’t provide specific details about vehicle emissions.Cleanliness: Vehicle history reports do not show information about how clean a vehicle is or has been. It also does not show if the previous owner was a smoker or left any stains on the interior of the vehicle.Why damage occurred: Vehicle history reports do not detail the reasons why damage may have occurred to a vehicle, such as whose fault an accident was or how fast the vehicle was traveling when it incurred damage.Personal information about previous owners: Although some information is provided about the previous owners of vehicles, there is no personal information included. This means there are no phone numbers, names, or email addresses listed for the previous owners of the vehicles.

What Are the Advantages of a Vehicle History Report?

Here are some of the main advantages of getting this type of report:

Aggregates Data

This report is an aggregation of local, state, and federal information about a vehicle. These types of reports may be available separately, but the vehicle history report provides all this information in one place. This saves you time, hassle, and money.

Provides Peace of Mind

If you fall in love with a vehicle and want to purchase it, requesting a vehicle history report can give you the peace of mind required to finalize the purchase. This is because these reports can confirm your belief that a vehicle is in good condition, has great service history, and has no other outstanding issues. Confident sellers should have no hesitancy in providing this report to you for this purpose.

Protects Your Investment

Auto accidents are one of the leading causes of a decline in the value of cars, so checking for accidents and other issues before purchasing can protect your car’s value in the future. For example, if your vehicle has been involved in zero serious accidents, you may be able to request a higher price for it when you’re ready to sell. Alternatively, you may receive questions about previous accidents if you ever attempt to sell your vehicle.

Gives Information Related to Current Issues

If you’re experiencing issues with your current vehicle, you can get a report of your car’s past to find out what work has been done and if there are any outstanding repair issues that might relate to your current problems. This information can be extremely valuable when you bring your car in for repairs. Experts can analyze this information to determine which repairs are essential to extend the life of your vehicle.

Shows the Vehicle’s True Mileage

These reports do not show approximate overall mileage. They show the specific miles driven, which gives a more accurate look at how much your vehicle has been used and how many services it has had over the years. They can also show if the odometer reading is inaccurate.

Determines if a Vehicle Is Worth the Asking Price

This type of report can show important details about a car’s history that can inform your decision to make an offer. If the seller is asking too much money for a vehicle, you may be able to counteroffer by using the information in the report. For example, you may ask for a discount to repair the rusted rotors. You may also be able to negotiate lower-cost repairs in exchange for a better price on your purchase.

What Should I Do After Getting a Vehicle History Report?

Here are some steps you can take after getting a vehicle history report but before making a purchasing decision:

1. Read Online Reviews About the Vehicle

Reading online reviews about the make and model of the vehicle you are considering can be a helpful next step to take after getting a vehicle’s history report. These reviews can give you insight into the overall performance and safety of the vehicle. It’s important to note that this information is about the make and model in general, and not your specific vehicle.

2. Take a Test Drive

Driving a vehicle provides a much more accurate assessment of its condition and performance than an inspection can. You can determine many things, such as whether or not the transmission is operating smoothly, if the vehicle pulls to one side or another, and if there’s any hesitation when you accelerate. If the car performs well during your test drive, then you can start to become more confident in the purchasing decision.

3. Look for Signs of Damage

Cars that have been in an accident will show signs of repair work or replacement parts on the body and underneath. You might notice that a door doesn’t close properly, the paint is different than it should be, or the home buttons don’t work. The best way to confirm this information is by having an expert take a look at your vehicle.

4. Get an Inspection

Now you’re ready for the most important step — an inspection by an expert mechanic. The mechanics at a repair shop will be able to see things that you would never notice on your own or that the seller has tried to conceal. For example, they can tell that you need a new alternator if they hear strange noises when you turn on the car’s ignition. They might also find cracked engine blocks, worn gears, and warped tires.

Are Inspections Essential Before Buying a Used Car?

It’s not always a requirement to get a formal inspection done before buying a used car but doing so can provide important information about how the vehicle is performing. This extra knowledge can help you decide if a used car is worth purchasing, or if you should negotiate for repair costs. It’s also wise to have an inspection done when buying a car that’s more than 10 years old. This, in addition to a vehicle history report, can give you enough information to make confident and informed purchasing decisions.

Finance & Insurance Editor

Elizabeth Rivelli is a freelance writer with more than three years of experience covering personal finance and insurance. She has extensive knowledge of various insurance lines, including car insurance and property insurance. Her byline has appeared in dozens of online finance publications, like The Balance, Investopedia, Reviews.com, Forbes, and Bankrate.