It’s always a good idea to be an educated consumer, especially when it comes to purchasing something that’s a big investment like a used car. Here at The Auto Connection, we take a great deal of pride in our selection of quality used cars. Our highly trained mechanics and buyers personally review each vehicle to ensure it meets our standards before putting it on the lot for sale. Part of this review process includes a deep dive into each vehicle’s AutoCheck report. So, what exactly is the report and how can you be sure you understand it? A vehicle history report gives you information about the used car’s past, including ownership, repairs, and title exchanges. As you read through it, take note of the following items:
Ownership. You’ll learn how many people have owned the car and if it’s been registered in multiple states and locations. It will also tell you the types of ownership and use of the car, like whether it was a company car, a government vehicle, a taxi, or a rental.
Title. The title is a document establishing the legal owner of the vehicle, whether a person or business. You’ll want to make sure it’s never had a salvage title or other title problems, including what’s known as a branded title. If so, it may mean the car was possibly in a collision and/or branded unfit to drive or declared a loss by the insurance company.
Service records. Not all service centers and auto shops report this information so this section may not be comprehensive. But it’s a nice bonus to have some information about the used car’s service history if you can get it. Take note if you see a lot of repeated repairs, recent repairs, or repairs within a short time frame, which could all indicate something more serious with the vehicle.
Mileage. The used car report will have the mileage report of the car, as well as its mileage when it was first purchased, when it was first sold, etc. The mileage should go up in sequence throughout the report. If it doesn’t, there could be an issue with the odometer or it could have been altered.
Are you in the market for a reliable used vehicle? As a premier buy here, pay here dealership in Hampton Roads, The Auto Connection helps people in Virginia Beach, Norfolk, Portsmouth, Richmond, Eastern Shore, Smithfield, Chesapeake and Newport News, VA get the financing they need to drive away in a quality used car, truck, SUV or van. Find out how easy it is to get a quality pre-owned vehicle of your own with buy here, pay here financing from The Auto Connection.
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