Deciphering A Vehicle History Report

(MS) - Buying a used car can be a frustrating process. Most buyers are fully aware that appearances can be deceiving. Though a car might look great on the outside, under the hood can be a different matter entirely. Add in concerns about accident history, and it’s no wonder many prospective buyers are a bit apprehensive when it comes to used cars.

Something that makes the process a lot less stressful is the availability of vehicle history reports (VHR). Thanks to Web sites such as CARFAX.com, prospective buyers can now remove much of the mystery surrounding the purchase of a used car. For those who are considering buying a used car but aren’t quite sure what to make of the vehicle history report, here’s a quick guide to help decipher the report.

OWNERSHIP HISTORY:
This is one of the first items listed on a VHR, and for good reason. The more owners a vehicle has had, the more skeptical a buyer should be. Buying a car from the vehicle’s initial owner is always recommended. If the car has traveled many miles but there’s still just one owner, then that’s a strong sign the owner took great care of the vehicle.

While one owner is the ideal, it’s often not the case, particularly for older vehicles. Be wary of any vehicle that’s changed hands numerous times, particularly if it’s been sold on a yearly basis.

TITLE HISTORY:
States issue titles depending on different things that might have happened to a vehicle. A fire/flood title, for instance, will be issued when the vehicle has been damaged by flood or fire and the cost of repairing the vehicle exceeds the vehicle’s value. States typically don’t allow vehicles issued such titles back on the road. But since different states have different laws, it’s conceivable a seller could take a vehicle with a fire/flood title across state lines and try and sell it in a state where the laws are different. Other titles include salvage, junk, rebuilt and buyback titles, the latter of which is issued when a dealer or seller was forced to buy back a vehicle in poor condition after sale. Any vehicle with these titles should be avoided.

ACCIDENT HISTORY:
It’s always good to avoid buying a car that’s been in an accident. However, this section on a VHR can be deceiving. For example, a car might have been in a minor accident where the airbags deployed (airbag deployment is indicated on the report). A minor accident can be caused by hitting a bike in the driveway and having the airbags deploy. Always inquire as to the nature of all accidents on the VHR. If anything seems suspicious, walk away.      walk away.