What to Look for in a VIN Report before buying a used car in Richmond

Half-way through a stack of paperwork being signed, panic sets in as you suddenly wonder how many people have owned this vehicle you’re purchasing and why did they sell it? Are you about to purchase someone else’s nightmare car? Airport Auto Sales wants to assure you that purchasing a used vehicle does not need to be so terrifying. What we suggest to our customers who are nervous about the unknown is to obtain a Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) report. These reports can be run on any used cars in Richmond Va that you are considering purchasing. Carfax and Autocheck are excellent places to get VIN checks from with costs averaging $25-$40. But just how does one sort through the pages of information once the report is run, and what information is most important? With our Buy Here Pay Here vehicles we suggest to focus on a few key aspects of the report.

The ideal previous owner is the little old lady who only drove her car to the grocery store and church. Clues to this type of owner will be only the initial sale from the dealership and evidence of consistent service. A large amount of service records is actually preferable to very little as it indicates the previous owner quickly addressed the vehicle’s needs instead of ignoring them. It is rare to have every oil change listed on the report, but the best vehicles will have many listed. Several sales to different owners and across a number of state lines can be a red flag that the vehicle may have a serious underlying problem. If the vehicle has had several owners or lacks service records, this does not mean that the vehicle is a deal-breaker. Make sure to ask the dealerships with used cars in Richmond, Va if they have any service records. For example, at our Buy Here Pay Here lot at Airport Auto Sales, we keep records of all the work we have done on the vehicle. These records may indicate that the perpetual problem was addressed.

 

Another aspect to pay close attention to on a VIN report is the accident history. The first and foremost is if the vehicle has a salvage title. A salvage title means that the vehicle has been deemed a total loss. Instead of totaling the vehicle, the owner chose to fix the vehicle. Checking the service reports to make sure that the accident damage was repaired is crucial. The report may also indicate comprehensive claims such as fire, hail, and flood damage. Hail damage is not too concerning but fire and flood damage might raise a red flag. Again, looking for repair work is crucial.

The darker side of VIN reports among used cars in Richmond, Va is the possibility that the odometer has been tampered with by replacing the signal dash, or the vehicle is stolen. By comparing the report’s mileage reading with the vehicle, you can determine if the odometer has been tampered with. What we suggest with our Buy Here Pay Here vehicles is to run a free VIN check with the National Insurance Crime Bureau. You can discern if the vehicle has been stolen and ever returned. If it has not been returned, run quickly. Remember that these reports are subject to human error and can having missing or incorrect information. However; they can still allow a great peace of mind by knowing the vehicle’s history.