Obtaining a car history report is a crucial document you need when purchasing a new vehicle. You cannot skip this step because it will provide you with numerous details that will help you decide whether buying the car is the right choice or not. You will be familiar with the entire history of the vehicle, and therefore, you will be able to predict if any issue could arise in the future.
You are certainly familiar with some information that you will learn from this document, but in this article, we are going to discuss them in great length. If you are about to buy your first car then you should definitely keep reading this text because you will find out what things you have to consider.
Have there been any damages?
Upon hearing the word ‘damage’ your mind probably goes to collisions. Yes, you are right, but also, you have to be aware of the fact that many types of damages can occur even if the vehicle hasn’t been in an accident. Think about fire, flood, and even hail. Okay, when it comes to the last one, impairments can usually be fixed easily.
However, you should avoid purchasing a car if it has been involved in a fire or a flood. Why? Well, these can cause some harm that doesn’t necessarily need to be visible immediately, meaning the chances of experiencing some problems in the future are quite significant. If you end up purchasing this type of vehicle, you shouldn’t be surprised by the frequent repairs that you will have to pay for.
Has it been in an accident?
This is something that you will learn easily since the history report providers collect data from all sorts of sources, from repairs shops to DMVs and insurance companies. Just because a car participated in a collision it doesn’t mean that you should start looking for another one immediately.
Our advice is to hire an independent, third-party mechanic and have them inspect every inch of the vehicle. Not only will they be able to notice if some damages haven’t been listed on the report, but they will also be able to verify that all the parts that have been installed are new. Unfortunately, some repair shows install used airbags which can pose a danger to you if you ever get into an accident yourself.
Besides, you should also request to see all the information about the shop that initially did the repairs. If you do not want to take the car to another mechanic, you have to ensure that the original repair shop is reputable, but we believe that you shouldn’t skip this inspection, just to be on the safe side.
How many people have owned it?
The general rule is that the vehicles that have had only one owner are in better condition. Car history report providers use public records to create a list of all the previous owners and gather information on whether the vehicle has been in the possession of a company or rental service. This is another thing that your mechanic should know before doing their job.
One more thing, if there has been only one previous owner and you are buying the vehicle directly from them, you should learn if they took out a loan and if it has been paid off. Naturally, if the vehicle hasn’t been paid off completely, this is something that needs to be done before the title can be shifted to your name.
What is the mileage?
Without a doubt, this is something that most people are curious about and sometimes it is a thing that can make or break a deal. Usually, the first thing that potential buyers check is the odometer. Nevertheless, you should keep in mind that those numbers don’t necessarily have to be accurate.
What are we talking about? As you probably know, the odometer can be restarted, and this was a pretty common scam in the past. However, doing this nowadays is fairly difficult due to top-notch dashboards and history reports.
If you notice that the numbers on the odometer are much lower than those in the report, it should definitely be a red flag, and hence, you should start looking for the new vehicle to purchase. Naturally, unless the owner has a solid, bulletproof explanation, but still, you should be careful.
Has it been serviced regularly?
Obviously, you cannot expect to find information on every oil change, but those about periodic maintenance check and major repairs should be available. This information will enable you to understand if the previous owner was responsible i.e. if the car has been serviced regularly. In addition, you will also learn if some major parts were replaced multiple times which would mean that something is not functioning properly.
If you notice that some of these appointments were skipped and the owner cannot provide you with any additional information, you should inform your mechanic so that they would know how thorough the pre-purchase inspection should be.
What about registration?
As you know, each state requires owners to register their vehicle, and in most of them, a periodic inspection has to be completed, otherwise, individuals are not able to register the car. If this has been done in multiple states, then you need to go over all the details thoroughly. Also, if you notice any gaps, make sure to inquire about them because it can mean that the car was stolen, abandoned, or even went through reconstruction after a collision.
How to get a car history report?
Now that we have told you about the reasons you should get this document let us inform you how to obtain it. There are multiple providers, so you should do online research to find a reputable one. Some of them even provide you with the opportunity to make this request via their official website and receive the report on your email.
Another thing, before you choose a certain provider make sure to investigate what kind of information they can obtain, and you can also inquire about the sources. We have already mentioned some basic data that you should get, but you should check quickrevs.com.au to learn what other details can be at your disposal. Finally, upon opting for a certain provider, you should read the customer reviews on their website just to see what their previous clients have to say about their service.
