Five Reasons You Need a Car History Report Before Buying

Once you’ve made the decision to buy a used vehicle, you’ve still got quite a lot of work ahead of you. Depending on your credit, you might need to line up references to vouch for your ability to pay. You have to figure out what kind of car you might want—electric, hybrid or gas, sedan, SUV or pickup. You have to consider financing and potential down payments.

But one thing you should absolutely consider is purchasing a car history report. It might cost a little extra (though the cost typically is under $50) but it can save you thousands of dollars if it stops you from purchasing a car with hidden damage or a poor history.

There are dozens of benefits to a car history report, but the following are reasons why it’s an absolutely necessary step to take in your vehicle purchase journey.

Discover Accident Reports

When you purchase a new car, you already know its history. It went from the factory to the dealer to your home. Of course, you can’t have that knowledge with a used car. No matter what, you’ll never know everywhere it’s been, or everything about it.

But, getting a history report will tell you one very important aspect of the car’s past—whether or not the car has been involved in any accidents. While a car that’s been in an accident isn’t necessarily a car that you should avoid, some accidents can lead to permanent or drastic damage that you’ll have to deal with for the lifetime of the vehicle.

Learning about previous accidents can save you years of headaches. And thankfully, that is just one of the things that a car history report can inform you about.

Spot Odometer Rollbacks

Another risk you take by purchasing a used car, especially if it’s not from an actual dealer, is that not everyone who sells their vehicle is honest about it. One common scam involves rolling back a vehicle’s odometer.

If you’re not familiar with this particular practice, it’s simple (and extremely dishonest). By opening the odometer and manually dialing it back, you can advertise a car with far fewer miles than it actually has. So you might think you’re getting a great deal for a car with only 50,000 miles, when in reality it’s on its last legs with 200,000.

That’s why car history reports are essential, as they can determine the actual mileage of a car, no matter what the odometer says.

Learn Maintenance Records

Just as a car history report can help spot any accidents that a vehicle has been involved with, it also can help tell you any general maintenance that a car has undertaken. This can be a great way to discover any potential red flags with the vehicle that’s caught your eye.

If the car seems too good to be true, it very well might be. A car history report will let you know if the transmission has had to be replaced, or how long the brake pads tend to last. If the car seems to be spending more time in the shop than on the road, the car report is there to warn you and let you know you might be better off going with a different car.

Catch Hidden Recall Notices

Car history reports aren’t just for spotting dishonest sellers and undisclosed accidents or maintenance—they can also spot issues that the current owner might not even be aware of! In 2020 alone, there were 886 vehicle recalls that affected over 54 million car owners.

It stands to reason that many car owners might own a car that has had a recall issue (which can range from something minor to something that requires massive repairs or even a replacement vehicle) that they aren’t even aware of.

But you know where you can find out about any and all recalls a vehicle is part of? You guessed it–a car history report. And finally, the final reason you absolutely need to have a car history report before buying a used car is…

See Previous Owners

No, you’re not looking to spy on whoever has owned the car that has caught your eye. But seeing the list of previous owners is a huge benefit of a car history report.

Why’s that? Because the more owners a car has had, the more you should be wary.

If you’re buying a 2008 car that has had four owners, that’s not necessarily a huge cause for concern. You’re paying less for an older car, and cars changing hands over a long period of time is to be expected. But if that 2016 vehicle has already had three owners? There might be a reason the owners keep unloading the car.

Buying a used car can be a great way to find great value, but it’s important to make sure that the car you get is everything promised. That’s why a car history report is a must-buy to make sure your purchase goes as smoothly as possible.

And of course, when you’ve gotten that car history report, and are ready to continue with your purchase, there’s no better place to go than myAutoloan.com!