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About two years ago, I was on the hunt for a used work van. Nothing special, just something to help me to make pickups and deliveries without putting unnecessary strain on my car. So I started doing the rounds of used car dealerships in my area.

Some dealerships looked like they were being run out of someone's backyard, while others were more established but crawling with slick commission hungry salesmen who would do or say anything for a sale.

Luckily, before I started my car search, I went ahead and purchased an unlimited month of CARFAX reports. With a CARFAX you can research DMV information about the car you are looking to buy - all you need is the VIN. The information is listed in a clear summary format including ownership history, title problems, and other information including accidents. Next to my knack for beating a salesman down to his very best price, this car history report service proved to be one of my most valuable tools, and here's why.

Research the Title

So you've got your eye on a used car in the lot. It's got a fresh wax job, new Michelin tires, and a clean interior. Don't be fooled by what you're seeing - you've got to know what happened to this car before you sign on the dotted line!

A vehicle report will prevent you from buying a car that has a "branded" title, meaning it's marked as having a questionable history. For example, a car that was in a flood or fire will have that information listed on the title to warn you of potential problems. Clearly, you just don't want to buy a used car that has been salvaged, or involved in a catastrophic event. Title information about the vehicle is displayed each time you do a report.

The vehicle history report will also warn you if someone has tampered with the odometer causing an inaccurate mileage reading.

Accident Scams

As you may suspect, there are a lot of scams going on in the automobile industry. At times, cars that have been involved in total loss accidents are fixed up and transported across state lines to be resold. In other cases, a serious accident may have occurred that caused the airbags to be deployed, and unscrupulous dealers will resell the car without properly replacing them. As you can imagine, this is extremely dangerous in the case of another accident. A vehicle history report will notify you if a vehicle's air bag has been deployed in the past.

Know How Many People Owned the Car Before You

Another valuable piece of information that people sometimes overlook in a car history report is the ownership history. Knowing how many people owned and drove your car can be helpful because it lets you know how the car was used. For example, if a six-year-old car changed hands 10 times that could mean there is something wrong with it. Who knows, maybe it's haunted or possessed like Christine! Whatever the reason, having that information will help you make a more informed decision about this purchase.

During my van search, I only came upon one vehicle that had a questionable history. That and its unreasonable price caused me to keep on moving! I finally found a perfect van that resulted in a clean CARFAX - and it's still going strong two years later. While CARFAX's are not 100% they are definitely a worthwhile investment when scouring the market for a used car.

Learn more about this author, Jade Balle.
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