It is important to check a Vehicles
History before purchasing a vehicle these days. A lot of times most of us don’t
understand the meaning of the terms used in these reports.
I shall chronicle the detailed meanings
of each term used in VIN reports so we can understand them better.
Every VIN Report contains important information that can impact your decision about a used vehicle.
There are many things a seller may not disclose to you, such as a salvage title, junk title or flood damage. Any of these and other issues can affect the safety, performance and even value of a used car.
To make it more difficult for you to learn a vehicle's history, crooked sellers may list the wrong VIN in an online vehicle posting or may not be willing to provide the VIN at all. Scam artists may also alter the vehicle's title documents to hide potential problems.
Every VIN Report contains important information that can impact your decision about a used vehicle.
There are many things a seller may not disclose to you, such as a salvage title, junk title or flood damage. Any of these and other issues can affect the safety, performance and even value of a used car.
To make it more difficult for you to learn a vehicle's history, crooked sellers may list the wrong VIN in an online vehicle posting or may not be willing to provide the VIN at all. Scam artists may also alter the vehicle's title documents to hide potential problems.
Use these tips to protect yourself from fraud as you shop for a used car:
1. Get the VIN from the seller or off of the vehicle itself. If the seller refuses to disclose the VIN, that could be a sign that they do not want you to learn the car's history.
2. Get the vehicle's history. Ask the seller for a Vehicle History Report. If the seller does not provide it, bring it to http://www.upforgrabsauto.com/vin-check
3. Confirm the vehicle's identity. Physically match the VIN provided by the seller to the VINs on the vehicle, the vehicle's title documents, and the CARFAX Report. If any of the VINs do not match, you may want to walk away from the deal.
75% OF USED VEHICLES SHIPPED TO NIGERIA ARE TOTAL LOSS, SALVAGED JUNKS. BE INFORMED AND SAVE A LIFE.
Locating
the VIN
The VIN is located in a number of places on a car, but most commonly on the dashboard (you can see it through the windshield) and the driver's side door jamb sticker. On some vehicles the VIN is also placed on the engine, hood, and other parts.
The VIN may also appear on car titles, insurance policies, service records and police reports for the vehicle.
Vehicle History Information From VINs
The VIN is located in a number of places on a car, but most commonly on the dashboard (you can see it through the windshield) and the driver's side door jamb sticker. On some vehicles the VIN is also placed on the engine, hood, and other parts.
The VIN may also appear on car titles, insurance policies, service records and police reports for the vehicle.
Vehicle History Information From VINs
Characters within a VIN indicate a vehicle's year, make, model, where it was manufactured, and more.
JUNK TITLE
The Vehicle is Incapable of safe operation for use on roads or highways and has no resale value except as a source of parts or scrap, or the vehicle's owner has irreversible designated the Vehicle as a source of parts or scrap.
This vehicle shall NEVER be registered.
Also known as Non-repairable, scrapped, or destroyed.
BEWARE OF JUNK TITLE VEHICLES!
The Vehicle is Incapable of safe operation for use on roads or highways and has no resale value except as a source of parts or scrap, or the vehicle's owner has irreversible designated the Vehicle as a source of parts or scrap.
This vehicle shall NEVER be registered.
Also known as Non-repairable, scrapped, or destroyed.
BEWARE OF JUNK TITLE VEHICLES!
SALVAGED - DAMAGE OR NOT SPECIFIED
Any Vehicle which has been wrecked, destroyed or damaged, to the extent that the total estimated or actual cost of parts and labor to rebuild or reconstruct the vehicle to its pre-accident condition and for legal operation on roads or highway exceeds a defined percentage of the retail value of the vehicle.
Salvage-Damage or Not Specified also includes any vehicle to which an insurance company acquires ownership pursuant to a damage settlement, or any vehicle that the vehicle owner may wish to designate as a salvage vehicle by obtaining a salvage title, without regard to extent of the vehicle's damage or repairs, or any vehicle for which the jurisdiction cannot distinguish the reason the vehicle was designated salvage.
Any Vehicle which has been wrecked, destroyed or damaged, to the extent that the total estimated or actual cost of parts and labor to rebuild or reconstruct the vehicle to its pre-accident condition and for legal operation on roads or highway exceeds a defined percentage of the retail value of the vehicle.
Salvage-Damage or Not Specified also includes any vehicle to which an insurance company acquires ownership pursuant to a damage settlement, or any vehicle that the vehicle owner may wish to designate as a salvage vehicle by obtaining a salvage title, without regard to extent of the vehicle's damage or repairs, or any vehicle for which the jurisdiction cannot distinguish the reason the vehicle was designated salvage.
COLLISION
Vehicle Damaged by Collision
Vehicle Damaged by Collision
REBUILT
The Vehicle previously branded "salvage" has passed anti-theft and safety Inspections to ensure the Vehicle was rebuilt to required standards.
The Vehicle previously branded "salvage" has passed anti-theft and safety Inspections to ensure the Vehicle was rebuilt to required standards.
FLOOD DAMAGE
Vehicle Damaged by freshwater flood (or it is unknown whether the damage was caused by freshwater or Salt Water).
Vehicle Damaged by freshwater flood (or it is unknown whether the damage was caused by freshwater or Salt Water).
LIEN REPORTED
Vehicle has a reported lien or outstanding loan through a lender or lenders.
Vehicle has a reported lien or outstanding loan through a lender or lenders.
RECOVERED THEFT
Vehicle is reported to have been previously stolen in either the US, Canada or Mexico and later recovered.
Vehicle is reported to have been previously stolen in either the US, Canada or Mexico and later recovered.
ACTUAL THEFT
Vehicle is reported to be an active theft in either the US, Canada, or Mexico.
Vehicle is reported to be an active theft in either the US, Canada, or Mexico.
TOTAL LOSS
Vehicle has been reported to be a Total Loss vehicle by an Insurance Company.
Vehicle has been reported to be a Total Loss vehicle by an Insurance Company.
CRUSHED
The Frame or Chassis of the vehicle has been crushed or otherwise destroyed so that it is physically impossible to USE it in constructing a vehicle.
The Frame or Chassis of the vehicle has been crushed or otherwise destroyed so that it is physically impossible to USE it in constructing a vehicle.
TOTALED
A Vehicle that is declared a total loss by a jurisdiction or an insurer that is obligated to cover the loss or that the Insurer takes possession of or title to.
A Vehicle that is declared a total loss by a jurisdiction or an insurer that is obligated to cover the loss or that the Insurer takes possession of or title to.
I hope this has been helpful to someone. Cheers!
Here's the universal VIN decoder. It shows extended tech info and list of factory options. Hope the tool will be helpful for car owners.
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