Don't Skip a CARFAX Report When Buying Used Cars

If you are in the market for a new car make sure you go through the right steps before making a purchase. Finding a car that is right for you is the first step, and of course you need to find financing. The next step is checking out the used car to make sure it is in good shape before buying. The most reliable way to check a car's history is to obtain a CARFAX report and then have a trusted mechanic check it out.

So what is a CARFAX report you ask? Using each vehicle's title and VIN number, CARFAX compiles a detailed car history report on every vehicle manufactured after 1981. A car history report will tell you all kinds of information such as: previous accident reports, lemon history, emissions inspection history, the previous use of the vehicle (rental, taxi, etc) whether the title was salvaged and so much more.

Many used car buyers quickly dismiss the thought of buying a CARFAX report because of the money, but let's get real, the $25 spent on a quality vehicle history report is the best investment you will ever make. There are thousands, no probably millions, of drivers who wished they had spent the measly $25 to look into a car's history instead of spending thousands of dollars on a car that has a damaged history, salvaged title, or is even a lemon!

It truly is unbelievable the amount of history CARFAX is able to report to you on each vehicle. The vehicle history will report if the car has been stolen, salvaged, or auctioned. It will also alert you if the car has been flooded (or even registered in a flood disaster area), been in an accident (the report will even show if the airbags have been deployed), totaled, deemed a lemon, and how the car has been used (taxi, lease, rental car, government, or certified pre-owned.) In addition to accident reports the vehicle history will give odometer readings throughout its history, alert you to vehicle recalls, the number of previous owners, where the car was purchased and sold, service records, and show the car's standard equipment and associated reliability ratings.

Knowing the history of a car you are buying is fantastic information to protect the buyer from paying too much for a damaged vehicle, but another great advantage of a CARFAX report is that it gives you solid evidence for negotiation. One very intelligent way I have heard of people using their CARFAX report to get a lower price is noting the date the car's lease ended and how long the car has been sitting on a dealer's lot since the expiration date. No dealer is trying to sit on a car, rather it is sitting because no one else would buy it for that price either. Now you have the control and can offer any price you deem fair.

Despite the countless advantages a car history report from CARFAX offers, it is not completely foolproof. Thieves will be thieves and so they are always searching for a way around the law and how not to get caught. Odometer fraud still happens and closely looking at a CARFAX report will only tip you in the right direction. Also, accidents with damage totaling less than $1000 often go unreported, and thus will not appear on the vehicle report. Something else to keep in mind is that VIN numbers were not available on vehicles made before 1981, and thus a CARFAX report would not be useful.

In addition to obtaining a detailed vehicle history on a used car, it is also a great idea to have a trusted mechanic give a car a thorough inspection. Most auto shops have a list of items to look for in a used car to ensure they are in good condition and as advertised. A quality mechanic will certainly notice any damage to the car that may have gone unnoted in the vehicle history, and will allow you to make an informed decision before buying a used car (another investment that is well worth it in my opinion.)

It seems safe to say that spending $25 for a thorough report on a used car would be well worth the money in the long run. CARFAX reports offer an array of information that will prove helpful in making a decision on whether or not to buy a used car. In fact, the vehicle history report could even help you negotiate a fairer price on the car of your choice. Don't try and cut corners because the consequences could be costly.

Jake Newberry is a salesman for NuStar Motors, a used cars Sacramento dealer. Jake knows firsthand that taking a few precautionary steps before buying a used car can save you money in the long run, and he recommends a CARFAX report to all used car buyers.