What goes into identifying a vehicle's history?
Enthusiasts love VIN (Vehicle Identification Number) No. 1 cars -- signifying the first of any model run is a desirable vehicle for anybody’s collection. They are unique in number, and if it is an extremely sought after vehicle, hard to come by.
While fun to think about when it comes to collector cars, VIN numbers serve an even more significant role in the transportation world as a whole.
For the uninitiated, VINs are 17-digit numbers unique to each vehicle when manufactured. Information such a color combination, build date, engine type and details of origin are often nameplated inside the door and stamped on the driver’s side dash area. VIN is also significant to identify ownership and theft, as law enforcement often uses the number to check which actual vehicles were involved.
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Another important part of the VIN equation has to do with recalls. When a manufacturer needs to isolate a group of vehicles and owners associated with a recall, the VIN number helps the manufacturer easily identify the exact vehicles that need updated.
On the service side, technicians utilize a vehicle’s VIN number to identify the type of engine the vehicle has, as well as the critical parts needed to complete a maintenance schedule.
Important Vehicle History Tied to VIN
If you are in the market for a pre-owned vehicle, Hendrick Automotive Group partner CarFax is a great way to start that process. Based on the VIN number, a CarFax Vehicle History Report contains information such as accident history, open recalls, previous owners, service history and the vehicles primary option package.
With four primary areas of record, a pre-owned buyer will have a good idea about the totality of a vehicle’s background, ultimately helping make the decision a little easier based on what the buyer is looking for. Let’s take a look at the areas a CarFax Vehicle History Report captures:
Accident Data: For most buyers, this is the most significant metric. Areas such as accident history, damage severity, damage location (point of impact), damage repair records, airbag deployment records and structural damage is listed in this section of the report. While most vehicles are repaired and ready to go, the uneasiness of purchasing a vehicle with a prior accident can be a concern for some purchasers.
Service History: This is another area of significance, as a vehicle’s regularly scheduled maintenance history can often make or break a purchase. Deferred maintenance can be costly, especially if you are purchasing a luxury vehicle or higher end sports car. Report notations include oil changes, tire rotations, open recalls, brake rotor replacement, transmission replacement and safety inspections.
Type of Use: The usage background of the vehicle will give the new owner a better idea of how a certain vehicle was utilized. Was it for personal use or a rental, does it have a lease history, used as a commercial vehicle, a taxi or served a vehicle for law enforcement purposes. Knowing these uses may provide you better direction on how one would consider vehicle pricing, future expenses or reliability concerns.
Ownership History: This area of the check includes vitally important information such as if the vehicle has had an illegal odometer roll back, flood title or has been tagged with a Lemon title. Other information includes how many previous owners, what states/provinces the vehicle was owned in, length of ownership and last reported mileage.
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Every Hendrick Certified and Hendrick Affordable vehicle sold comes with its latest CarFax Vehicle History Report. When combined with our rigorous pre-sale vehicle inspection process, limited powertrain warranty, 24-hour roadside assistance, trip interruption coverage and vehicle rental coverage, Hendrick Automotive Group strives to give customers confidence and peace of mind with every pre-owned vehicle purchase.
We encourage you to shop our pre-owned inventory today.
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