Is the VIN useful?
The VIN is applied to the bodywork and also indicated in the vehicle passport and registration certificate
Additional license plates with the number can be under the windshield, on the driver`s or passenger`s side door stand, on the footboard under the mat in front of the passenger seat, on the footboard of the left wing under the hood, on the glass of one of the front racks - in general, where the automaker decides.
Collect auto parts
Spare parts sellers recommend, and some even insist on specifying the VIN when ordering. With their help, the manager discovers the modification of the car and minimizes the possibility of errors in the selection of spare parts.
Even two models with the same technical characteristics and complete sets can leave the assembly line at different times-and if the manufacturer has slightly changed some node or unit during this time, some details will be different. In addition, VIN will assist in the independent selection of spare parts according to the original manufacturer`s catalog; see VIN decoder for a detailed description.
Find out which engine and gearbox the car has. But not all services cope with this task-there is a risk of making a serious mistake and buying the wrong part. Therefore, it is better to entrust the selection of spare parts for the engine and gearbox to the specialists of the spare parts store or service station.
Check restrictions
Restrictions may be imposed on the car: for example, an arrest or a ban on search actions. This can be done by courts, investigative authorities, traffic police, social protection agencies and customs.
The owner may use such a car, but may not re-register it or remove it from the register. Therefore, such cars are given away at a low price to resellers who will easily find a trusted citizen who is ready to pick up the car according to the sales contract. The buyer goes to the MREO to register the car, and they tell him that it is forbidden to carry out actions of registration of the car.
In order not to fall into such a situation, it is important to obtain information about VIN restrictions. In addition, it is necessary to check not only the car itself, but also the owner-after all, restrictions on cars may not yet take effect. The car can also be pawned, as shown here VIN lookup. This happens if the loan has not yet been paid in full.
Check for theft. If you buy a car that is wanted, it will most likely be confiscated and sent to the seizure lot. A car can be put on the wanted list if the owner left the scene of an accident or if the car was stolen. Professional hijackers are unlikely to openly sell such a car, but it is worth checking this moment by VIN and making sure that everything is in order.
Check for an accident
As a rule, when selling a car, the owner hides the facts of an accident. You can check this not only during a personal inspection of the car, but also in the VIN databases. The services will not only inform you about the number of accidents registered with the traffic police, but also describe the nature and locations of the damage. Maybe the car was damaged a lot, the geometry of the body is broken and it is not worth buying. Or vice versa, the accident was minor and only the rear bumper was damaged. In any case, this information will tell you which parts of the car you should pay special attention to when inspecting it.
Check the history of traffic police records. Verify by VIN will give information about the number of car owners and show how long each of them owned the car. The personal data of the previous owners are hidden, you can only know if it is a natural or legal person.
If the car was owned by a legal entity, then there is a possibility that the car was rented, in a taxi or worked on delivery. If the owners of the car have changed frequently, this is suspicious-perhaps the car is technically defective and they want to get rid of it. The data in the report must match what the seller says and what is stated in the documents. Read more: VIN check.