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When I purchased my first used car thirty years ago, I was told find a large male relative or friend to go with me to intimidate the salesman. Forty years ago, kicking the tires, looking over the engine and taking a test drive were the main steps of a used car purchase and, for women, it was key to add a male presence to the auto-buying adventure. Times have changed and the consumer's resources in making a used-car purchase are enhanced a new tool called a car report. Companies such as CARFAX are now an added bonus to shoppers.

Car reports are a key tool in finding non biased, factual information on a specific car's history. From odometer rollbacks and tampering to collision history, from flood damage to reconstruction from used car parts, a car report is the consumer's best friend in a used car purchase!

Some car reports are free, but paying the $30 to $50 extra for a more detailed report is worth the expense. One saved trip to the mechanic might be 10 times the cost of the car report.

So, how does a car report like CARFAX work? After finding a car, talking with the owner or car dealer, and test driving the car, secure a recent auto report. A reputable used car salesman will offer one, but get your own copy from your own computer. Go to www.carfax.com. Make sure the auto report is generated within one to two days of your inquiry.

Using the car's Vehicle Registration Number (VIN) located on the dash on a small bar or on the driver's door panel, submit it to CARFAX. This is the equivalent of a human finger print in the auto world! The car's unique background from ownership (how many owners and duration of ownership) to mechanical (possible odometer tampering) to how many collisions the car has sustained will be on the report. Be sure to note if words like lease, fleet, etc. appear on the car's report. This means the car might have been driven by numerous drivers with varying degrees of care.

CARFAX also can alert a consumer to a car's damage from major floods. After Hurricane Katrina, hundreds of flood-damaged vehicles were moved out of Louisiana and sold across the United States. Using CARFAX, a flood damage alert will appear on the report. Canadian automobiles are covered on CARFAX reports, too. This cross the border reporting gives assurance to buyers in both Canada and the United States.

Be aware that some used car dealers are skilled at offering buyers a "clean" car report to look over before purchase. Always secure your own car report. Do not be rushed into the purchase. Get the VIN number, go online to CARFAX, and enter the information. No dishonest salesman is going to offer a car report that is full of red flags, right? Get your own CARFAX. Be sure to verify the VIN number on the car against the one on the report.

After using CARFAX, do one more VIN check by going to the National Insurance Crime Bureau which will run a free VIN check to assess if that vehicle has been reported lost, but not recovered. (www.nicb.org) This free service enhances the CARFAX search and assures the consumer that they are doing everything to get a clean vehicle.

Used car buyers everywhere can benefit from an auto history report. Never attempt to make a car purchase - even from a trusted friend - without spending a few minutes to secure a CARFAX report.

Learn more about this author, Jan Vroegin.
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