Vehicle History Checks: What They Do and Don't Reveal
A vehicle history check queries databases for records attached to a registration or VIN. It costs very little and identifies problems that would otherwise be invisible until far too late.
What a check typically covers
Outstanding finance. This is the most important item for a private purchase, because in many jurisdictions a finance company retains an interest in the vehicle and can recover it from an innocent buyer.
Write-off markers, showing whether the vehicle has been declared a total loss and under which category. Some categories permit return to the road and some do not.
Stolen status against police databases.
Mileage records from previous inspections and services, which reveal discrepancies suggesting the odometer has been altered.
Plate changes, colour changes, previous keeper count, import or export records, and whether the vehicle has been scrapped.
What it does not cover
Mechanical condition. A check cannot tell you that the clutch is worn, the turbo is failing or the timing belt is overdue.
Accident damage that was repaired without an insurance claim. A substantial proportion of collision repairs never reach an insurer, and those leave no record.
Quality of any repair that was recorded.
Service history beyond what appears in inspection records.
This is why the check and a physical inspection are complements rather than alternatives, and why a pre-purchase inspection remains worthwhile even on a clean history.
Reading the results properly
A finance entry does not always prevent purchase. It may be settled at the point of sale, with the finance company confirming settlement directly. Do not accept the seller's assurance without that confirmation.
A write-off marker is not automatically disqualifying. A vehicle written off for hail damage differs enormously from one written off for structural damage. Ask what happened, ask for repair documentation, and expect the value to be materially lower.
Mileage discrepancies need explaining. A single anomalous reading may be a data entry error; a pattern is not.
Verifying the vehicle is the vehicle
Check that the VIN on the vehicle matches the documents and the check. The VIN appears in several places — under the windscreen, on a door pillar plate, and often stamped on the body.
Signs of tampering with any VIN location are a reason to walk away immediately.
Confirm the seller is the registered keeper and that the address matches. Buying from someone who is not the keeper, at an address that is not theirs, is the pattern in most fraudulent private sales.
Practical points
Run the check yourself rather than accepting one supplied by the seller, which may be old or altered.
Some checks include a valuation and a guarantee against the data being wrong, which is worth reading for the limits and exclusions.
Do this before travelling to view, not after. It takes minutes and regularly saves a wasted journey.
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