A clearer picture before you buy
Compare ten vehicle history services. Find the records that matter, and make your next move with more confidence.
The comparison
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International vehicle history
Service & ownership records
US title & auction history
European & imported vehicles
US title & salvage checks
Compare US vehicle histories
US records & sales history
One-off US report options
Title history & sales photos
European vehicle recordsStatic price snapshots: carVertical EN prices from the Carvin API; other amounts imported from the existing comparison. Regional offers, currencies and checkout prices may differ. Pricing details.
Know what you’re checking
These two checks work together. Knowing the difference helps you choose a useful service.
Understand the manufacturer-reported make, vehicle type and technical details, where supported.
Explore free checksLook for recorded mileage, title events, damage or service entries. Coverage depends on the vehicle and source.
Choose a history serviceA vehicle identification number identifies a particular vehicle. A decoder interprets the information a manufacturer encodes, such as the vehicle family, model year or engine details where available. It does not itself contain a list of accidents or every mileage reading.
A basic decoder may be free. A history service searches separate records linked to that vehicle. Depending on the market and data supplied, a report may include title events, recorded mileage, insurance losses or photographs. Coverage varies; an empty section does not establish a clean history.
Start with the country where the car was registered, including earlier countries for an import. Compare the provider’s relevant coverage, sample report, billing terms and refund conditions. For a US vehicle, title and salvage records may be particularly useful; in Europe, national inspection and registration sources differ by country.
Check the vehicle documents and the locations described in its owner’s manual. Many modern cars have a visible VIN near the windscreen and a label around a door opening, but the stamped identifier’s location varies. Compare identifiers across the vehicle and documents. Standard 17-character VINs do not use the letters I, O or Q; older chassis numbers may be shorter.
Inspect the car, review invoices and ownership documents, check recalls and arrange an independent mechanical inspection when appropriate. A history report can reveal records worth investigating; it cannot guarantee the vehicle’s condition. Use our pre-purchase inspection checklist.
Start with the vehicle
Find identification guidance, documentation and the limits of a VIN lookup for your make.
These are research guides. The VIN form checks format and continues to an external report provider.
Follow the registration history
Choose a country where the vehicle was registered to find relevant records and official checks.
25 Cars to Research for Resale Value. Research the exact generation, maintenance history and condition, with clear limits on what a historical model list can establish.
Read the guideInspect the body, tyres, interior, documents and VIN, then use independent checks to investigate faults and gaps before buying a used car.
Read the guide15 Used Cars to Research for Reliability. Research the exact generation, maintenance history and condition, with clear limits on what a historical model list can establish.
Read the guideHigher-Cost Used Cars: 15 Models to Inspect Carefully. Research the exact generation, maintenance history and condition, with clear limits on what a historical model list can establish.
Read the guideUnderstand the official Australian PPSR search, registration checks and commercial vehicle reports, including what each can and cannot establish.
Read the guideCompare ways to decode a Volkswagen VIN and investigate vehicle history, with coverage limits, document checks and practical selection criteria.
Read the guideCompare VehicleHistory and CARFAX by regional coverage, available vehicle records, purchase terms and report limitations before choosing a check.
Read the guideCompare six free official or industry vehicle checks, including VIN decoding, recalls, theft records, UK MOT and French HistoVec, with clear limits.
Read the guideCompare VINCheckPro and CARFAX by regional coverage, available vehicle records, purchase terms and report limitations before choosing a check.
Read the guide
