买二手车? 为什么必须进行识别码检查

If your weekends are busy with virtual walkarounds or at-home test drives, but this is your first time hearing the term VIN (pronounced "vin"), you might want to put the brakes on used car shopping. Auto manufacturers assign a VIN (vehicle identification number) to every car. It's made up of 17 unique letters and numbers that could unlock a car's troubled past, preventing you from purchasing a lemon. 

A VIN check summarizes the vehicle's recorded history. No two motor vehicles share the same number. This helps ensure the information you receive applies to the specific car or truck you're looking to purchase. 保险索赔, 碰撞修理店, and law enforcement aid in providing a comprehensive vehicle history. 

Look for the VIN on the driver-side doorjamb, 靠近挡风玻璃的仪表盘, 或者刻在发动机上.

税号检查如何省钱

A shiny, new paint job and freshly detailed interior can hide a history that could cost you money. A VIN check can give you valuable information so you can make an informed buying decision. 如果有损坏, some lenders may limit the loan amount they will extend to you on that particular vehicle. 

The vehicle history report can reveal:

看不见的洪水损害

Even if you live in an area where it rarely floods, getting stuck with a used car with flood damage is possible. These cars can be made to look like new before being shipped to another state for resale. A VIN check can reveal whether the vehicle was totaled because of flood damage. 

安全问题

Vehicle recalls can be dangerous if ignored. 例如, 错误的安全气囊, 方向盘, and electric coolant pumps left unrepaired can lead to tragedy. Fortunately, a VIN check can help you quickly determine if a recall exists before buying the vehicle. Most recall issues can be resolved at no cost by an authorized dealer. 

Prior Accident and Collision Repairs 

The VIN check can reveal structural damage and major vehicle repairs. A seller may not disclose the complete history of the car. Or, if they're not the original owner may be unaware of its history. Let a VIN check help fill in the gaps.

车辆使用情况

Does it matter if the vehicle was part of a rental fleet, 用作运送工具的, 或者用于拼车? It might, especially if the vehicle has relatively low miles. A VIN check can reveal odometer rollbacks. This occurs when the vehicle report reflects a drastically higher number than what appears on the odometer, e.g.9万对5万. Sellers may roll back the odometer reading to convince you to pay more for the vehicle. Odometer fraud can also cause you to miss critical maintenance checks. 例如, unserviced brakes could later be blamed as a contributing factor in a crash for which you might be liable. 

What a VIN Check Can't Tell You

While a VIN check can reveal more about the vehicle than you'd find by looking under the hood, 这不是万无一失的. If data isn't reported, it won't appear when running the VIN check. 例如, suppose a driver doesn't file an insurance claim and has a friend complete the repair work. The prior damage is unlikely to appear on a vehicle history report. 

VIN检查的费用

There are several places where you can secure a VIN report for free. 

• The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) allows you to enter the VIN to learn about safety issues and recalls. 
• The National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) provides free checks to determine if the vehicle was reported as stolen and not recovered, or if it has been classified as a salvage vehicle by specific insurance companies. Other organizations may charge for VIN checks that provide more comprehensive information. 
• Credit Union of Colorado pulls a CARFAX history report on all direct auto loans, 不包括内部再融资. Credit Union of Colorado pays for this report, and does not pass it through to members. 

A used vehicle doesn't need to have a perfect past to be a good deal. 然而, since buying a car is an investment, it's wise to learn about potential problems before you complete the transaction.