Expert insights on vehicle history, safety, and smart buying decisions
A salvage title check is the single most important step before buying a used car in the US. Here is where the salvage brand comes from, how to look it up by VIN, and why a clean state title does not always mean a clean history.
Salvage and rebuilt titles are not the same thing. One means the car cannot be driven, the other means it was repaired and inspected. Here is how each affects insurance, financing, resale value and what to check before buying either.
The winning bid at Copart or IAAI is only part of the price. Buyer fees, internet bid fees, gate fees, storage and broker charges can add $500-1,500 to a mid-priced car. Here is how the two fee structures differ and how to budget before you bid.
Free VIN checks decode the car and show recalls. Paid vehicle history reports show title brands, salvage auctions, theft records, odometer history and listings. Here is exactly what is free, what is not, and when the $10 report pays for itself.
Digital odometers made rollback easier, not harder. Learn how to spot a rolled-back odometer using the mileage history in listings and auction records, physical wear clues, and the federal disclosure paperwork.
Carfax and AutoCheck are not the only way to see a car's history. Here is where vehicle history data really comes from, what the cheaper alternatives include, and how to choose a report when you are comparing several cars.