Know a used vehicle's history before you buy

These days, it's impossible to escape the bad news coming out of the auto industry. Everyone knows that vehicle sales are down compared to last year. But this obscures the fact that even in one of the worst economic environments in decades, thousands of cars are being sold each month.

People are still out there buying cars, and many of them are looking at used cars. For some, purchasing a car is a necessity, even in a down economy. Maybe you peruse the used car section of the newspaper because you're going to have a new driver in the family. Perhaps you're frantically clicking around on automobile Web sites because fixing your car will cost more than buying another one.

Certainly there are lots of benefits to buying used, the most important of which is the lower price. But buying a used vehicle can be risky if you haven't done your research. When touring the lot, you can't always tell if a car has been in a crash, damaged in a flood or hailstorm or used as a rental car. And you shouldn't rely on a salesperson to give you complete information about a vehicle's history, assuming they even know it.

While shopping for your used vehicle, keep these two tips in mind to get the best value for your money:

1. Comparison shop -- In the down economy, money is tight for everyone, which means you can't afford to make a bad investment in a car that will end up costing you more money long term. Take your time, compare vehicles before settling on a choice and make sure you are spending your money wisely.


2. Know the vehicle's history -- Knowing detailed information about the vehicle's past is the best way to ensure you're getting good value for your money. A vehicle inspection and the purchase of a vehicle history report are two great ways to find more information on the vehicle you're interested in.

A quick and easy way to learn about a vehicle's past is with an AutoCheck vehicle history report. The report was developed by Experian, a global leader in credit scoring and information solutions. With an AutoCheck vehicle history report, you can gain valuable information about the vehicle, such as:

• Has the car ever been in an accident?
• How many people owned the car previously?
• Can I trust the mileage on the odometer?
• Has the car's title ever been branded? (Was the car salvaged, in a flood, considered a lemon?)

There's simply no way to answer any of these questions by only looking at the vehicle on the lot. The data on an AutoCheck vehicle history report can include information from state departments of motor vehicles, salvage yards, insurance companies, police records and many other sources.

AutoCheck vehicle history reports also include the AutoCheck Score, which can help you  quickly and easily understand a vehicle's past, compare it to other vehicles, and lower the risk of buying a vehicle that may have undetected problems. Just as a credit score summarizes your credit history in one easy-to-understand number, the AutoCheck Score distills the information on a vehicle's history report into a simple, numeric score. The score summarizes and simplifies the vast amount of data found in your vehicle history report, making it easier for you to comparison shop and find the car you want.


The only way to be confident in your next used car purchase is by doing a little research and learning more about the vehicle’s history to make sure you're getting the best value. Visit www.AutoCheck.com to purchase a vehicle history report for only $14.99. Copyright ©, ARAnet, Inc.