Frequently Asked Questions

About VINs

What is a VIN?

The Vehicle Identification Number is a unique 17-character code assigned to every road vehicle built since 1981. It identifies the manufacturer, the model, the assembly plant and the individual unit, and it stays with the vehicle through every owner and every registration.

Where do I find the VIN?

On a plate at the base of the windshield on the driver's side; on the sticker inside the driver's door jamb; on the title, registration or insurance card; or in the seller's listing. A VIN never contains the letters I, O or Q — if you think you see one, it is a 1 or a 0.

The VIN I have is shorter than 17 characters.

Vehicles built before 1981 used shorter, non-standard VINs and are generally outside what any history provider can search. If you have miscounted or a character is unclear, photograph the plate and send it to us — we will help you read it before you pay.

Coverage

Which countries do you cover?

The United States and Canada — all 50 states, plus the Canadian provinces and territories. Both are always searched, on every package.

Which vehicle types?

Cars, trucks, SUVs, vans, motorcycles and RVs. Heavy commercial equipment and vehicles built before 1981 are outside our coverage.

Can you check a car that was imported from Canada to the US, or the other way?

Yes — this is one of the cases the service is built for. A vehicle written off in one country and re-registered in the other can look clean to a search that covers only one side of the border.

Ordering and delivery

Do I need an account?

No. You fill in the order form, pay once, and the report is emailed to you. Nothing renews and there is nothing to cancel.

How fast is it?

Orders are processed around the clock. Silver orders are placed on priority; Gold orders go to the front of the queue. If a VIN needs a manual look we will email you rather than leave you waiting.

My report has not arrived.

Check your spam folder first — automated PDFs are often filtered. If it is not there, email us with your order number and the VIN and we will resend it.

I entered the wrong VIN.

Contact us immediately. If the report has not been generated yet we will correct it at no charge. See the refund policy for what happens after a report has been produced.

Can I check several vehicles?

Yes — order one report per VIN. If you check vehicles regularly, ask us about dealer and bulk pricing.

Choosing a package

Which one do I need?

Basic ($45) answers the make-or-break questions: clean title, honest odometer, never written off. Silver ($90) adds the detail behind the flags — how bad each accident was, who owned it, where it was sold, what service it had. Gold ($120) adds a lien check, a market value estimate and a written expert review. As a rule: the more the vehicle costs, the more the deeper report is worth.

Can I upgrade after ordering?

Yes. Contact us with your order number and we will invoice the difference and re-run the VIN at the higher level.

Results

What if there are no records for my VIN?

If our sources return no usable record for the VIN you submitted, we refund the order in full. A report that comes back clean is different — that is a real and useful result, not a failed search.

My report is clean. Does that guarantee the car is fine?

No, and be wary of any provider who says otherwise. A history report covers what has been reported. Damage repaired privately and never claimed appears in nobody's records. Always pair the report with a physical inspection by a qualified mechanic.

The report shows an accident but the seller says there was none.

Ask for repair invoices. A reported minor incident with documented repairs is often nothing to worry about. A seller who denies a documented, dated insurance record is a different problem.

Privacy and payment

Will the seller know I ran a check?

No. We never notify a seller, dealer or previous owner that a VIN has been searched.

What do you do with my details?

We use your name and email to prepare and deliver your report and to support you afterwards. We do not sell your information. See the privacy policy.

Is payment secure?

Checkout is encrypted and handled by our payment provider. Full card numbers never reach our servers.

Still stuck?

Send us a message — we answer 7 days a week, usually within a few hours.