If you are looking for the history of a specific vehicle - than there are no free sites. Nobody is going to collect all that data - 20,000 sources for Carfax, pay for all the computers to run the site and all the employees to run the computers - and give it away for free.The freebies provided are purely adequate to tell you you will could purchase the completed record on the vehicle. If you need a complete VIN Check money will have to be paid.Remeber you get what you pay for. If you are looking to spend thousands of dollars on a vehicle, do you really want to take the cheap route and save $9.95 now.What is The Best and Cheapest Vehicle History Report Site?VIN Check Pro - Same VIN Databases as Carfax but More Affordable.Like Carfax, a VIN decoder report from VIN Check Pro provides an entire database of information regarding your prospective car from government sources, including the National Motor Vehicle Title Information System, state DMV, police records, and more than 40 million junk, salvage, and insurance records, including:Accident history recordsJunk, salvage, and total loss titlesStructural damage historyAny commercial taxi useOwnership and lease historyAny police use or recordsTheft history checkVehicle specificationsMore than 60 vehicle problem categoriesEnvironmental friendliness scoreOdometer estimatesRecallsSafety ratingsAccurate and More AffordableWhile Carfax reports are $39.99 for one report or $59.99 for five reports, VIN Check Pro is a much more affordable and accurate option at only $9.95 for one report and $15.95 for five reports. VIN Check Pro has the same access to the databases from which Carfax pulls, but the pricing is significantly lower.If you need a VIN lookup, VIN Check Pro is a smart stop in your research and for your pocketbook. Click here to visit the official website.A car report or a DMV VIN check can reveal any other strikes against a vehicle that might make you think twice about signing on the dotted line, such as:past ownership.any liens held on the vehicle.vehicle maintenance.title history blemishes.faulty odometer settings.flood damage.accident history.car title check.whether a vehicle was determined to be a lemon.Vehicle history reports can make purchasing a car less of a gamble. Why roll the dice when you can actually know exactly what you are buying by doing research on a VIN number? Obtaining a report is as simple as verifying the VIN number and hopping on a computer.Whether you're a private seller or a dealer, a vehicle history report can help you sell a vehicle. If the VHR is free of questionable content, what better way to gain the buyer's confidence? Also, if there happens to be suspicious-looking information on the report, you can find out what it's all about and ease any concerns a customer might have.You can visit Vehicle History Report and VIN Check to check a caru2019s history by VIN for free.Car history report is not free. There are numerous sites that offer history report at a reasonable price as others in this thread have mentioned. Main difference between the more expensive Carfax, AutoCheck and other bargain report is that they have their own exclusive data that others don't but whether the extra cost is worth it or not is debatable. The most important thing to remember about history report is that it doesn't tell you the whole story.The VIN (Vehicle Identification Number) is a kind of history report that is found on all vehicles. Sometimes, an automobile has been in a collision but certain parts are still working. When another car of the same model is available, people salvage and weld some of its body parts together. Make sure it is not the case with the used car you are planning to buy.What you can do is secure a VIN report, which can be done online. You will pay a certain amount to obtain the vehicle history report. But actually, it is just a small amount compared to the amount you could lose when you are duped. You see, some dealers are so cunning that they weld car parts together and then sell them in various other states so they will not get caught.You can not get a completely free report but you can get half of it.The method to get a free vehicle report is u2013Find out the Vehicle Identification Number also known as VIN. It is usually written on almost every part of the car and even in the manual.Select a service that gives the report to get a part of the report and then decide if you can the complete report.Enter the required information and run the report.If by public, you mean free, then no. Experian owns a competitor to Carfax called Autocheck. The auto finance company where I work uses both Carfax and Autocheck. As others have mentioned, if you want basic information like whether or not a title is branded as salvage or flood damaged, then there are free sites provided by the government. Experian and Autocheck, on the other hand, are database aggregators. They compile their information from several sources including DMVs, insurance companies, police agencies, and even repair shops. You're not going to find anyone doing what they do, for free, which is why auto dealers and finance companies subscribe to their services.Did you know that every vehicle comes with a unique serial number? The 17-digit Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) is like a secret password to a caru2019s past. It can unlock information on where itu2019s been, what itu2019s done, and how itu2019s been used u2024 and sometimes you can check a vehicleu2019s history for free.The VIN is used to locate your vehicle history report, which tells you whether the vehicle has been stolen and recovered, or damaged in an accident, flood, or fire. The report also shows how far itu2019s been driven and whou2019s owned it, as well as its title branding, which reveals whether the car has been deemed damaged in relation to its value. Getting a vehicle history report is especially important when youu2019re shopping for a used car. Learning about the vehicleu2019s past before you plunk down your money can help you avoid a bad purchase.u201cA VIN check is imperative for used car shoppers, as it will let you know if the car has a salvaged or branded title u2024 that is, if the car has been totaled by an insurance company due to extensive damage from an accident, flood, or other event,u201d said Jamie Page Deaton, managing editor of U.S. News Best Cars. u201cAvoiding cars with salvage or branded titles will save consumers some major ownership headaches.u201dMost services charge a fee for a vehicle history report, but sometimes you can obtain limited information about your vehicle without paying for it. u201cFree VIN checks will get you the major red flags, like a salvaged title,u201d Deaton said, u201cbut paying for a VIN can get you more details, like how many owners the car has had.u201dThe federal government offers VIN checks, free of charge, through the National Insurance Crime Bureau, which provides data on the vehicleu2019s current state of title and last title date, brand history, odometer reading, total loss history, and salvage history. The VINCheck tool permits five searches within a 24-hour period per IP address. Note that records can take up to six months to appear in the federal database and only show up if the event was recorded by an insurance company. Meanwhile, you can plug the VIN into the National Highway Traffic Safety Administrationu2019s database to find out if a vehicle has been recalled.The government reports are less detailed than those you would find through a paid service. Youu2019ll have to buy a report from a third-party, such as Carfax or AutoCheck, if you want comprehensive information on recalls and repairs. A detailed report will include a description and overall evaluation of the vehicle, along with dates and locations for when it was serviced and sold. It will also reveal if the car has been registered in numerous states by previous owners, or recalled, or repurchased by the manufacturer under the lemon law.CarFax, a U.S. News & World Report partner, offers free VIN checks in many of our used car listings. It also sells longer reports through its website u2024 $39.99 for a single report and $59.99 for a bundle of five u2024 that include more details than competitors, such as service department records. AutoCheck, a competitor service owned by Experian, tells you a vehicleu2019s make, model, and country of origin based on the VIN. Its paid reports generate a numerical score for the vehicle so that you can compare it to similar ones built that year. You can buy an AutoCheck report on a single vehicle for $24.99, or pay $49.99 to access 25 reports within 21 days.VehicleHistory provides the most comprehensive free VIN check. Its website generates detailed information on a vehicleu2019s performance, inspections, specifications, safety ratings, warranty, and a multitude of other topics. It will tell you where the vehicle has been listed for sale, its list price and sale price, and the status of its parts and components.Another website that offers a VIN check free of charge is VINCheckPro. Enter your VIN into the database, and the website will tell you the age, make, model, engine type, and country of origin for your vehicle, as well as whether a recall has been issued. VINCheckPro will also assign the vehicle a score for safety and environmental friendliness. However, youu2019ll have to pay for more detailed information such as title status, accident history, and odometer readings. A single report costs $9.95, and a package of five runs $15.95.Remember that if youu2019re scoping out a vehicle for sale, you can sometimes obtain a free VIN check simply by asking. Most dealerships have subscriptions to Carfax and other services that prvehicle history reports, and your sales associate can obtain the report for you. An independent seller may also be willing to throw in a VIN check for free if it means he or she will be likelier to sell the car.The Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) shows the history of a car. Find out for free if there any problems or damage done to a car before you buy it.When shopping for your next vehicle, you naturally want to discover everything you can about its history. While the dealership or individual in possession of the car or truck you're considering can prmuch of the information you need, such as what type of maintenance or repairs have been done throughout the years, you can't be completely assured of the accuracy of what they provide. Also, in the case of a vehicle with multiple previous owners, the last person to drive it may not even be able to answer all of the questions you have.This doesn't mean you should simply accept limited information at face value or give up on discovering any unknowns about your potential purchase. The Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) of that car or truck is the key to unlocking a wealth of information from police reports to specifications. While it's true that many investigative searches by the VIN come with a price tag attached, you may be surprised at how much you can discover absolutely free.Part 1 of 5: How to read a VINPart of the reason the VIN can reveal so much information about a vehicle is because itu2019s the unique identifier of that particular car or truck. This ensures there is no mistake that what the number reveals applies solely to that vehicle and no other.What a lot of people don't realize, however, is that the number itself is quite revealing about specific details. Each number and letter of the VIN corresponds to a particular piece of information that may be helpful in making a purchase decision.The types of data on the VIN include where the vehicle was built and assembled, its model year, and the size of its engine. Refer to the chart below for a detailed breakdown of what each of a VIN's parts means.There are four main ways you can get a free VIN check, and each method targets a slightly different kind of information. Consequently, we suggest you use all four instead of a single means. You can make the best purchasing decisions when armed with the most knowledge about the vehicle you're interesting in buying.Ask the dealer or individual owner to write down the VIN on a piece of paper and conduct your research online before making any commitments. Don't let anyone pressure you into a purchase before youu2019re ready because there are plenty of other vehicles on the market. Take the time you need to feel sure about such a major decision, and don't hesitate to contact one of our technicians for advice.Part 2 of 5: Get Informed on vehicle specificationsRemember how every number and letter on the VIN corresponds with a particular piece of background about that vehicle? Since you can't be expected to remember what every little bit means, there is a free website that breaks all of that information down for you.Step 1: Go to the Vin Checker website in your browser.Step 2: Fill out the necessary information. Enter the VIN number of the vehicle you are researching and your zip code into the designated text boxes.Step 3: Review the report. Push the u201cCheck Your VINu201d button to reveal the vehicle's specifications, including fuel efficiency, NHTSA, and IIHS crash test ratings. Although there will be an option to purchase a more detailed report, the information you gain from this free search can be quite useful in making a purchase decision.Part 3 of 5: Ensure the title is free and clearThe last thing you want to do is get involved in purchasing stolen property or the complicated title history of a vehicle, especially when there is no shortage of cars and trucks with clean titles for sale. That's why itu2019s a good idea to rule out any chance that your potential purchase is less than on the up-and-up.Step 1: Visit the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) website. The National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) is a non-profit organization committed to combating insurance fraud and related crime. It partners with various law enforcement agencies and casualty insurance companies to achieve this purpose.Step 2: Use VINCheck on the vehicle. Select the VINCheck option under the Theft and Fraud Awareness menu.Step 3: Examine the vehicle's report. Enter the VIN, check the box to agree to the NICB's terms of use, and enter the displayed verification code, then push the Search button. This reveals if the vehicle in question has a current theft report or outstanding title brand.Warning: The NICB does not reveal if there is an outstanding lien, but you can check for that information with your local Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV).Part 4 of 5: Make sure the vehicle isnu2019t part of a recallFew people consider the possibility that the vehicle that has caught their eye may have had a serious issue that resulted in a safety recall from the manufacturer. While most issues that merit a recall are quickly located and fixed, a few vehicles slip under the radar due to the changing of hands or locations. For peace of mind, it is advisable to take advantage of the free NHTSA service to see if your desired vehicle has ever been recalled.Step 1: Access NHTSA's website. Visit the National Highway Transport Safety Administration (NHTSA) website for reliable information.Step 2: Click on Recalls & Defects. Under the Vehicle Safety drop-down menu, select Recalls & Defects.Step 3: Click the Search for Recalls by VIN button. This is located at the bottom of the page.Step 4: Submit your VIN. Enter the VIN and displayed verification code in the appropriate text boxes, then press Submit. This will show if a safety recall is incomplete or has been issued in the past 15 years for all major vehicle manufacturers.If, however, there is a recent recall or a recall older than 15 years, it may not be in the database.Part 5 of 5: Go old-school and just askOccasionally, a motivated seller is willing to pay for a more comprehensive VIN check themselves and supply the results to potential buyers like you as proof that the vehicle is worth its asking price. Unless you ask, you won't know. Alternatively, consider paying for a comprehensive vehicle report yourself. In the long run, a small up-front investment could save you a lot of money down the road.While running a VIN number using these methods may not tell you everything you need to know about a potential purchase, they are highly effective in alerting you to major issues, such as title complications or significant damage in the past. If everything comes back clear after running the VIN, be sure to have a mechanic look it over using a service like our pre-purchase car inspection. Using a multi-pronged approach to researching a vehicle before committing to a purchase can ultimately save you from a bad decision or reinforce your desire to buy.Thanks
