How to Get the History of a Vehicle

Whether you're buying or selling a used car, it's a smart idea to pull up a history report on the vehicle. When buying, you need to ensure that the car hasn't had major issues in the past, like an accident that required major body work. Before selling, you should find out if any issues show on the vehicle history report so you can adjust your asking price accordingly, if not just to be aware of what a buyer might find. A number of convenient services allow you to pull up the history of a vehicle online.

• 1

  Visit your state's Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) office to get the history of a vehicle. The DMV is the main source for information about cars registered in the state. Fill out the form for requesting vehicle information, which will likely ask for the VIN (vehicle identification number), information about the owner and the registered license plate currently on the vehicle. Pay your fee and wait for the DMV to send the report via email or mail.

• 2

  Use VINCheck, a service of the National Insurance Crime Bureau, to retrieve a car history report for your vehicle. Enter the 16-digit VIN number, accept the agreement and enter the verification code to conduct a search. The service runs a free quick check on the car of your choice, but it does not give detailed information like paid services do -- it only does a check on whether the vehicle was stolen or involved in a total-loss accident.

• 3

  Retrieve car history using InstaVIN's online service. The service provides you with a low-cost full vehicle history report, including data regarding owners, accidents and service records; or it will give just an accident history report at a lower price. Choose the option to order a new report, and enter the VIN number. Then pay for the information with a credit card to retrieve the information. You can receive accident history reports via mobile phone if you prefer. The service also provides you with a free valuation for the car online.