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For many people, buying a car is one of the biggest purchases of their lives — right behind a house, education, and taxes. And like the home buying process, there's a lot to consider in the car buying process to make sure you are getting a good deal. Would you buy a house with mold in the basement? Or a cracked foundation? Or, what if the previous owner neglected simple maintenance and upkeep?
No, you probably wouldn't be interested, and if you were, you'd want to order a home inspection report before sealing the deal.
For a vehicle purchase, a vehicle history report works much the same way and can provide the details you need to make an informed decision before signing on the dotted line. For even more peace of mind, consider buying a Certified Pre-Owned vehicle.
Two of the most respected vehicle history report companies are Carfax and AutoCheck. These companies pull recorded history associated with the vehicle's identification number and compile them into one report. These reports can be a gamechanger for those looking to make a purchase.
Regardless of whether you buy used or Certified Pre-Owned, Philip Reed of Nerd Wallet suggests a vehicle history report is worth getting your hands on. Here are a few things to look for in a vehicle history report and why you might want a CPO car.
Branded, salvaged, or rebuilt title
One of the most important pieces of information a vehicle history report can provide regards its title status. If a car has been in a serious accident, totaled, or been affected by natural disasters, then it's likely to have a branded, salvaged or rebuilt title. Having anything other than a clean title negatively affects the car's value and can spell trouble for future buyers if the car hasn't been properly repaired.
It is not uncommon for used cars to have issues with odometers. If the mileage seems off, maybe the car's instrument cluster was replaced or tampered with in an effort to get a better sale. Regardless, a vehicle history report can detect if there have been irregularities in odometer readings, alerting the buyer to the risk of a deceptively high mileage vehicle.
New or old, you'd be surprised how many times a car can change hands. And while it's nice to imagine that your car has always been treated right, seeing how many owners have owned the car and how it was used in the past can help paint a picture of the life you otherwise would be oblivious to without a report.
Sometimes it's difficult to know by appearances if a car has been in an accident. With a vehicle history report, any serious accidents will be reflected, as well as minor ones reported by police. While some accidents could be deal-breakers, others could be minor enough to not cause concern. Either way, it's good to know if there's been serious damage caused by an accident and what that could mean for future reliability and resale value.
One of the biggest benefits of getting a vehicle history report is the behind-the-scenes look it provides at how a vehicle has been treated and cared for. Most reputable shops and dealerships, like Ken Garff, record maintenance in their database, which will show the prospective buyer how regularly and thoroughly the vehicle has been serviced under its previous owner(s) care.
As part of the report, you can know what manufacturer-required repairs have been completed or not according to manufacturer-required recalls. Recalls are taken care of for free by the manufacturer, so if your potential vehicle has warranty work outstanding, don't fear — Ken Garff will safely have your car fixed up in no time.
If you want as much peace of mind as possible when buying a used car, then seeking out a Certified Pre-Owned car is what you need. Whereas a used car could have any sort of history and background, a Certified Pre-Owned vehicle is as good as or better than buying a new one, said Jack Keebler of Car and Driver.
To be a certified pre-owned has met the dealership's highest standards for quality, maintenance, and other pre-purchase checklists. These stringent inspection standards ensure the buyer is getting the best deal they can on a used vehicle — and may even get additional warranty coverage tacked on at no extra cost. CPO vehicles are about as low-risk a purchase as they come.
New or used, Ken Garff has what you're looking for. Visit their website, kengarff.com, to find the car of your dreams today!