Where to find the VIN
Compare the dashboard, driver-side door jamb and title. If the characters do not match, stop the transaction.
Read the record.
Then read the car.
Short, practical explanations for the evidence a vehicle report can—and cannot—give you.
Start with the essentials.
Campaign match vs open recall
A model may be included in a campaign while the individual vehicle has already been repaired or falls outside the VIN range.
Why “clean title” needs context
Brand definitions vary by state, and a current clean title does not erase a prior state’s salvage or rebuilt history.
Reading mileage records
Look for chronological reversals, implausible jumps, exemption labels and long gaps—not just one dashboard number.
The report is not the inspection
Electronic records cannot reveal every repair, leak, noise, flood trace, worn component or structural issue.
Five questions before payment
Ask for the title, service records, recall receipts, lien release and permission for an independent pre-purchase inspection.