Understanding Our Data
Where report data comes from, what it covers and its limits.
Title, brand and odometer records
Title brands (such as salvage, junk, flood and rebuilt), title transfer dates, the odometer readings recorded at each transfer, and total-loss and salvage-yard reports come from the National Motor Vehicle Title Information System (NMVTIS), retrieved through an approved NMVTIS data provider.
NMVTIS relies on states, insurers and salvage yards reporting to it. Not every state reports every record, and some events, such as a crash repaired without an insurance claim, are never reported. Read the full NMVTIS disclaimer.
Vehicle specifications
Specs are decoded from the VIN using the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's (NHTSA) Product Information Catalog, which manufacturers supply. They describe the car as it left the factory, not later modifications.
Recalls, complaints and crash ratings
Safety recalls, owner complaints and New Car Assessment Program crash test ratings come from NHTSA. These are published for a year, make and model rather than for a single VIN, so they describe vehicles like yours. A recall listed in a report may already have been repaired; a franchised dealer can confirm that for a specific VIN.
Listings and market value
Sale and listing history (when a car was advertised, where, and at what price and mileage) and market value come from automotive market data that tracks dealer inventory and private-party listings across thousands of websites. Market value reflects what similar vehicles are listed for, not an appraisal of a specific car's condition.
What a report can't tell you
A vehicle history report only contains events that were reported to its sources. A report with no problems listed doesn't prove a car has never been damaged, and it isn't a substitute for an inspection.
Before you buy, have the car checked by an independent mechanic, test-drive it, and compare the VIN on the dashboard, door jamb and title.
How we handle your information
We use your email address and the VINs you search to run your account, deliver your reports and handle billing. Card details are processed by our payment provider and never stored on our servers. We don't include owner names or personal information in reports. Details are in our Privacy Policy.
Reporting an error
If something in a report looks wrong, tell us with the VIN and what you believe is incorrect. Title records are maintained by the reporting state, so a correction to a title brand usually has to be made by that state's motor vehicle agency.