# Is there a free V.I.N. check for used cars? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [May 19, 2004, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-free-v-i-n-check-for-used-cars/246004 "2004-05-19T18:31:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![BMalion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e274bd/32.png) [@BMalion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BMalion)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2004, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-free-v-i-n-check-for-used-cars/246004/1 "2004-05-19T18:31:34Z")
I’ve looked googled all I could think of and I’ve only found services that want about $20 or so… anyone know of an online service that does it for free? Obviously, I’m looking at buying a used car. Thank you. ---
**Author:** ![JSexton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/96bed5/32.png) [@JSexton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JSexton)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2004, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-free-v-i-n-check-for-used-cars/246004/2 "2004-05-19T19:00:14Z")
I do not know of a free service. I used Carfax last time I bought a used car. Yeah, it was 20 or 25 buycks, but it was unlimited searches for a month. Weel owrth it. Better yet, if you know someone else who is also in the market, split an account. It’s unlimited, after all. Besides, what’s another 20 bucks if you’re spending upwards of a grand, at least? ---
**Author:** ![BMalion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e274bd/32.png) [@BMalion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BMalion)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2004, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-free-v-i-n-check-for-used-cars/246004/3 "2004-05-19T19:45:22Z")
Good point, I’m looking at a $10k 2000 Grand Caravan and the dealer claims it was previously leased, with only one leaser (sp?), which seems to me to indicate a good maintainance record. ---
**Author:** ![smoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c5a1d2/32.png) [@smoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smoke)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2004, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-free-v-i-n-check-for-used-cars/246004/4 "2004-05-19T20:50:05Z")
I just bought a used Dodge GC myself- good car, but it’s funny how excited getting a minivan has made us. Never would have seen that coming 10 years ago. That said, ask the dealer to provide you with a CarFax report. Mine did for “free” on a few different cars I was looking at on his lot. Alot of dealers around here will do this at no additional (visible) charge. ---
**Author:** ![JSexton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/96bed5/32.png) [@JSexton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JSexton)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2004, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-free-v-i-n-check-for-used-cars/246004/5 "2004-05-19T22:29:14Z")
Good lord, how did that many typos appear in my post? Apparently, the SDMB has highly paid professional typo gremlins, now that they’ve gone subscription. Anyway, I don’t know that I’d entirely trust getting the dealer to give me a CarFax report. Assuming you’re shopping around a bit, the unlimited-for-a-month deal from carfax or whomever seems like a good investment. Unbiased third party, and all. ---
**Author:** ![smoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c5a1d2/32.png) [@smoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smoke)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2004, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-free-v-i-n-check-for-used-cars/246004/6 "2004-05-20T14:32:38Z")
I guess I could understand your reluctance to trust the dealer, but really, a CarFax report is based on the VIN of the vehicle and it appears on the report, so one would have to actually go to some length to fake it. (Not that it would be difficult or impossible to do, but really- I don’t think it would be worth it for the dealer to potential expose himself to the kind of trouble that faking a report cold land him in.)