
When Is the Best Time to Sell a Car?
Selling your car at the right time can be the difference between making a profit and taking a loss. Many car
You've received DISCOUNT!
Get the facts before you buy. Use the VIN to instantly access vehicle history reports and window stickers with details on ownership, accidents, theft records, original specs, and more.
Discover the history of any vehicle, including accident records, ownership changes, and more. Ensure the vehicle you’re considering is reliable and free from hidden issues.
View detailed original specifications, such as features, options, MSRP, trims, colors, and packages. Verify the car’s authenticity and assess its value.
If you don’t have the VIN, look up the US license plate by state. Access comprehensive history and detailed vehicle specs using just the license plate number.
Purchasing a vehicle without checking its history can lead to costly surprises. Issues like odometer fraud, hidden damage, or previous accidents might not be evident at first glance. Always verify the vehicle history to make informed and confident decisions.
Checking a car’s history ensures transparency, protects you from auto fraud, and allows you to buy with confidence. With detailed vehicle history reports, you can:
Before you buy or sell a used car, it’s important to know more than just what you can see. A vehicle’s history report and its original window sticker give you the facts behind the paint job so you can make smart, confident decisions.
Here are the top 4 things you should always check before buying or selling a used car:
A vehicle history report can show accidents, repairs, or flood damage that sellers might not mention. This helps you avoid cars with costly or unsafe problems.
You need to check if the car has ever had a salvage, rebuilt, or flood title. These are signs of major past issues that can affect value, insurance, and safety.
Odometer rollbacks still happen. History reports track mileage over time, so you can confirm the reading is accurate before you buy or list your car for sale.
The original window sticker shows exactly what the car came with, including the color, features, and the original MSRP. It helps you see its true value and spot any errors in listings.
A vehicle history report gives you detailed insights about a car’s past. It includes details like accident records, title information, mileage, theft records, ownership history, and more. Here’s what you can find in a vehicle history report:
Incorrect vehicle specifications can often result from miscommunication or fraudulent practices. These inaccuracies can affect vehicle history reports, insurance claims, and resale values.
Gain insights into the vehicle’s original specifications, trims, and features. This ensures you understand the exact car’s build and unique qualities.
There are over 482,000 water-damaged cars already on U.S. roads at the start of 2025 (before mid-year storms). A vehicle history report helps buyers avoid these hidden risks by showing if a car has ever been flood-damaged, salvaged, lemon branded, or rebuilt.
Verify the true title status of any vehicle before purchase with a vehicle history report.
An average of $4,000 in vehicle value is lost by victims of odometer fraud, plus additional unexpected repair costs. Odometer fraud is a common issue that can misrepresent a vehicle’s wear and value.
Ensure the mileage of a vehicle you’re considering is accurate and hasn’t been tampered with with a vehicle history report.
Find out how many previous owners the car had in the past. Frequent ownership changes may suggest potential problems with the vehicle. You can also determine whether the car was used for personal purposes, as a rental, or for commercial activities.
A vehicle that’s been in a major or minor accident can lose 10-15% or 5-10% of its value, respectively.
To ensure you’re buying a safe and reliable car, confirm details about past accidents, their severity, and the repairs undertaken. This helps gauge the vehicle’s structural integrity and safety.
Review the vehicle’s condition at previous auctions to understand its true history. Detailed photos and records from these events can show hidden damage, repairs, or modifications not mentioned elsewhere.
A car with a clean sales history indicates fewer potential problems and higher resale value. Track where and when the car was sold, including previous sale prices, and view up to 10 photos if available.
With this information, you can have better negotiations and set realistic expectations.
Verify that there are no outstanding loans tied to the vehicle. Selling or buying a car with an unresolved lien can lead to car repossession and financial and legal complications.
View lien and loan details and confirm the vehicle’s full financial status before purchase or sale.
Check for records of routine maintenance and major repairs. A well-documented service history reflects how well the vehicle has been cared for. This helps assess the vehicle’s condition, mileage, resale value, and estimated future maintenance cost.
According to the NICB, in 2024, there were 850,708 stolen vehicles. Some of these vehicles may have been sent into the used car market for sale. Verify if a vehicle was ever reported stolen in the past and if it was recovered.
Don’t end up with a stolen vehicle and legal issues.
In 2024 alone, over 29 million vehicles were recalled in the U.S., and more than 58 million cars still have unresolved recalls. Get a vehicle history report to check any vehicle’s recall status today and ensure safety and compliance.
A window sticker provides valuable information about the car, from its color to its safety ratings. Understanding what’s on this sticker helps buyers and sellers make smarter choices before purchasing or selling a vehicle.
Here’s what you can find with a window sticker by VIN lookup:
The window sticker clearly shows the exact paint color of the vehicle’s exterior and interior. With this, buyers can confirm if a vehicle matches their personal taste and can tell if the color of the vehicle has been altered in the past.
You will find full details of the options and packages that came with a vehicle from the factory. This part matters because it shows what upgrades are included and how they affect the total cost. It also helps you compare different trims or models easily.
A sticker shows the MSRP, which is the base cost of the vehicle and covers the options and packages added from the factory. It also shows the total price, which includes shipping and delivery. With this, you can see the full cost before any discounts and have better budgets.
Provided by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, these ratings show how the car performs in crash tests, usually scored from one to five stars. They show how safe a vehicle is and can be useful for buyers interested in high protection levels.
This part tells how many miles the car can drive per gallon of fuel in the city and on the highway. It is important because it shows how much money you will spend on fuel. Vehicles with better fuel economy save you money and help the environment.
You can find out what’s truly under the hood with a window sticker. This includes engine type, transmission, drivetrain, and other performance components. With this, you can verify a vehicle’s power, towing, and efficiency and see if it fits your needs.
This shows comfort, design, and convenience details like heated seats, LED headlights, touchscreen displays, or alloy wheels. This information is important for car buyers, as they can compare the overall driving experience and comfort of vehicles.
This shows how much carbon dioxide the car releases into the air. It is important because it helps you understand how friendly the car is to the environment. A car with a higher rating is cleaner and better for nature.
You can also find details on airbags, brake systems, lane warning, alarms, and other safety features on a window sticker. With these features, you can easily determine which vehicle improves safety and protects against theft.
This shows what parts of the car are covered by the company and for how long. This includes powertrain, bumper-to-bumper, and corrosion warranties, and more. With warranty information, you can see if a vehicle is still covered and what repairs are free.
Many online sources lack reliable data. Instant VIN Reports uses trusted databases to deliver accurate and comprehensive vehicle history reports. Rely on us for dependable information.
Follow these simple steps to get your vehicle history report
Enter the VIN (Vehicle Identification Number) or License plate number into the form above.
Choose a report package, and tick the window sticker box if you want both the vehicle history report and the window sticker, and make payment.
View your vehicle history report or window sticker instantly from the members area or download it as a printable PDF.
Our vehicle history reports are powerful tools for decision-making:
Confirms essential details like title status and mileage.
Uncovers hidden aspects of the car's history.
Discloses information such as accidents and liens.
Helps determine accurate market prices based on the vehicle's history.
Validates the vehicle's identity and historical records.
Provides the confidence to make informed buying or selling choices.
Access history reports for:
While Instant VIN Reports, Carfax, and AutoCheck provide accurate vehicle history reports, Instant VIN Reports has been considered to offer more detailed records and information at affordable prices.
Here are the additional features that distinguish us from others:
Feature | Carfax | InstantVINReport | AutoCheck |
---|---|---|---|
Pricing per report |
$49.99
Expensive
|
$19.99
Affordable
|
$29.99
Fair
|
Auction Photos | No | Yes | Yes |
Classic VIN Support | No | Yes | No |
Heavy duty trucks and trailer VIN support | No | Yes | No |
ATV and Motorcycle VIN support | No | Yes | No |
Auction Record Photos | No | Yes | No |
Vehicle Market Value | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Full Vehicle Specifications | Partial Data | Complete Details | Partial Data |
Original Window Sticker | No | Yes | No |
Classic & Vintage Vehicle Support | No | Yes | No |
Maintenance & Service Insights | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Ownership Record History | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Accident Records | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Title Brand Check | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Salvage Title Report | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Ownership Timeline Map | No | Yes | No |
Recall Notices | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Heavy-Duty & Motorcycle Data | No | Yes | No |
Start now and make smarter car-buying decisions. Access accurate and up-to-date reports to buy, sell, or verify with confidence.
Our users trust us for reliable and user-friendly vehicle history reports. Join thousands of satisfied customers today!
“I am rely impressed with the services provided to me. all the information I needed is just at my finger tip and this make my work lot more easier now. I am also impressed with the quick and immediate responses.”
“The report was comprehensive and helped me avoid a car with hidden damage. Worth every penny!”
“Easy to use and incredibly detailed. I was able to negotiate a better price after showing the seller the vehicle’s history.”
We offer additional services to cater to all types of vehicle data consumers:
Discover a car's original specifications
Access manufacturing details for vintage cars
Explore the unique histories of classic cars
Stay informed with expert tips on buying, selling, and maintaining vehicles. Read our latest posts for valuable insights and fine essential information on popular used car topics.
Selling your car at the right time can be the difference between making a profit and taking a loss. Many car
In the used car market, timing is everything. Purchasing a used car at the wrong time could lead you to pay
For some people, buying a car is like an investment. Little did they know that it could be a liability, especially
The VIN is a unique 17-character code that identifies a vehicle, showing its manufacturer, model, year, and history, including ownership, recalls, and accidents. It’s essential for verification and tracking.
You can locate the VIN on the driver’s dashboard, door frame, under the hood, or in documents like registration or title. Check the owner’s manual for specific guidance if it’s not easily found.
An “Invalid VIN” message often results from typos, incomplete VINs, older, non-standard codes, or VIN codes not supported by the VIN decoder. Double-check for errors, and confirm the vehicle’s VIN meets the 17-character standard established in 1981. To decode vehicles with 5-14 digit VINs, simply use our classic car VIN decoder to verify the original specs, transmission, engine information, and more.
A VIN check uses a vehicle's 17-character Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) to access its history report, which includes details like title history, accident records, and recall information. It’s important for buyers and sellers to confirm a car’s reliability, authenticity, and market value before any transaction.
A free VIN check service provides only basic information, like year, make, model, engine specs, and transmission, but usually lacks accident records, title status, or mileage records. Our paid yet affordable VIN check service offers more accurate, comprehensive data for informed decisions.
A VIN decoder breaks down the VIN to reveal a vehicle’s specifications (engine type, body style, transmission, and more), while a VIN check includes history details like accidents, liens, theft, ownership history, and more. They are both required to provide a complete picture of the vehicle’s true identity and condition.
You should run a VIN lookup to check a vehicle's history before buying it to gain full access to important information like title issues, accident history, odometer readings, recalls, theft records, and more. A VIN check ensures buyers avoid scams and sellers verify the car’s reliability and market value.
A free vehicle history report offers basic details, including the vehicle specifications, engine details, and more. They typically lack important information, such as accidents, title records, or ownership. To view these, you will need to get a paid service.
Yes, you can legally perform a VIN search for any vehicle to access information like vehicle specifications, accident records, theft records, ownership records, and more. However, you cannot get personal information of past owners with a VIN search, as this is illegal.