We will be super bold and tell you that if you buy your used car from FFUN Cars, you can stop reading right now! Why? Because this entire article is about how to get a vehicle history report when buying a car. We probably don't have to say this, but we will; if you're buying a new car, you don't need to worry about getting the car's history - it doesn't have any.
What is a Vehicle History Report
A vehicle history report is a report that uses the vehicle identification number to pull the complete history of a vehicle. There is a difference between a VIN check and a history report. A VIN check is a basic report that, by using the VIN number, can confirm the vehicle is what the seller says it is. i.e., make and model year. A vehicle history report in Canada provides the buyer with the basics of a VIN check and a detailed report of everything that's ever happened to the vehicle. Trust us, you want a vehicle history report before driving away in a used car. According to Canadian Motor Vehicle Traffic Collision Statistics, there were over 150,000 reported collisions in Canada in 2018.
A VIN report includes any motor vehicle accident history, vehicle defects, weather damage, recall information and if it's been repaired, and any warranty claims. It will show anything with an insurance claim made on the vehicle. There are many places to get a vehicle history report online that will help give you peace of mind when purchasing a used vehicle.
How to Get a Vehicle Report
If you're buying a used car from a dealership, they should already have the vehicle's history and be able to provide you with a free vehicle history report. If they don't have one, ask them to provide one as a condition for buying the vehicle.
Dealing with private sellers can be a little more challenging as many don't want to pay the extra money to provide car buyers with a report. In this case, if they are reluctant to provide one, you can either walk away or ask for the vehicle's VIN and run a report, such as CARFAX yourself.
That leads to the next way of getting your hands on a report. That's right, do it yourself. All you need is the car's VIN, and you can go online and get a free VIN check or pay a small fee to have a full report to show the comprehensive history of the vehicle, no matter who the previous owners were.
CARFAX Canada
CARFAX, previously CarProof, is the most well-known for vehicle history reports and has the largest history in North America. A CARFAX report will give in-depth information on reported accidents, whether from a collision or extreme weather. It includes the number of accidents, when they happened, what parts of the vehicle were affected, and the cost of the repairs. It will also have any service records recorded through a licensed repair shop, which helps understand how well the vehicle was taken care of.
A CARFAX report shows the registration and title status, which includes the last place it was registered, and if it's a clean title (never been in an accident) or branded title, meaning, was the vehicle ever considered a total loss.
In addition to the above, it will also show any safety recalls and if they are open recalls that haven't been fixed, import records to show if the vehicle came from the US or overseas, theft records so you can confirm you aren't purchasing a stolen vehicle.
CARFAX Canada offers a lien search for an added cost. In our opinion, well worth it. The last thing you want is to buy a car and then have it repossessed because it has an outstanding loan on it that the previous owner has stopped paying.
Back to what we said at the beginning, buy from FFUN Cars, and you'll know your new to you vehicle will be in excellent condition. See for yourself; we dare you! Browse our inventory, enjoy a virtual 360° tour, review the FREE CARFAX report, and complete the purchase online or in-store. At FFUN Cars, it’s all about you, plus, it’s Fast, First, and FFUN.
