HistoryByVIN Blog: VIN, Title and Used Car Guides
Plain-English guides to VIN checks, title brands, vehicle history reports and buying a used car in the US, written to help you avoid a bad deal.
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Latest articles
How to Check Recalls by VIN Before You Buy a Used Car
Flood-Damaged Cars: Signs to Look For and How to Check the VIN
How to Check a VIN for Accidents (Free and Paid Options)
How to Read a VIN: All 17 Characters Explained
Odometer Rollback: How to Spot Mileage Fraud Before You Buy
Buying a used car? Check the VIN first.
See title brands, open recalls, specs and more for any 17-character VIN. Free decode, no sign-up.
Browse by topic
- VIN Check Guides2 articles
Guides to reading, decoding and checking a 17-character VIN: what each position means, what free checks show and what only a full report can tell you.
- Car Title2 articles
What clean, salvage, rebuilt and branded titles mean, how title brands work, and how to check a car title by VIN before you buy. Guides from HistoryByVIN.
- Used Car Buying3 articles
Practical used car buying guides: inspection checklists, test drive tips, paperwork to check and the steps to take before you pay a dealer or private seller.
- Fraud & Scams2 articles
How to spot used car fraud: odometer rollback, flood-damaged cars, title washing and VIN problems, plus what to do and who to report it to.
- Recalls & Safety1 article
How to check open safety recalls by VIN, what the results mean, who pays for repairs and what to do if a used car you want has an open recall.
More guides
Used Car Inspection Checklist: 25 Things to Check Before You Buy
A used car inspection checklist with 25 checks: paperwork and VIN, body, tires, engine, test drive, plus a pre-purchase inspection, history and recalls.
What Is a Clean Title? Meaning, Limits and Red Flags
What is a clean title? It means no state brand like salvage, not no accidents. Learn clean vs clear title, title washing, and how to verify before you pay.
Salvage vs Rebuilt Title: What’s the Difference and Should You Buy One?
Salvage vs rebuilt title explained: what each brand means, if you can drive, insure or finance the car, how much less it is worth, and how to check by VIN.
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