How Can I Accurately Track and Verify a Vehicle's History?

[micaeljames]

Hello everyone.

I'm looking to purchase a used vehicle and want to ensure I can accurately track and verify its history before committing.

What are the most reliable sources and methods for checking a car's past, including accidents, service records, and previous ownership?

Are there specific websites or services you recommend for getting a comprehensive report?

Additionally, how can I cross-check the information to ensure its accuracy?

Any tips on spotting red flags or inconsistencies in a vehicle’s history would be greatly appreciated!

 

[micaeljames]

Hello everyone.

I'm looking to purchase a used vehicle and want to ensure I can accurately track and verify its history before committing.

What are the most reliable sources and methods for checking a car's past, including accidents, service records, and previous ownership?

Are there specific websites or services you recommend for getting a comprehensive report?

Additionally, how can I cross-check the information to ensure its accuracy of car history report?

Any tips on spotting red flags or inconsistencies in a vehicle’s history would be greatly appreciated!

thanks in advance for any help

 

[Steveinarizona]

If you purchase it from the owner, you can ask to see the service records. If, as I suspect, you will be purchasing it from a dealership or from Lucid, then determining the history is difficult. Dealers assert that it's records belong to the owner who incurred the service and won't normally share it. You can ask if the dealership can seek a waiver from the prior owner but, unless they have gone through this process before and have found a lawyer approved wording, they will probably not agree since determining the language might be expensive (if the seller is a large corporation with an internal legal staff it might be easier).

Carfax will have some history but it may not be complete. For example, a repair might have been done by the manufacturer or a dealer and reported to carfax but a different repair done by a shade tree mechanic won't be reported. Between those two extreme lie many vehicles which have carfax reports but they might not be complete.

There are a few other sites such as Bumper but I don't know whether they are good or trustworthy.