How to Get a Free Car Report Fast

If you plan to buy any used car, a free car report is the first thing to get. When you take the owner's or dealership's word a used car is in good condition, has never had an accident or been salvaged you really take your chances. Not everyone is straightforward or in the know when it comes to a car's history. While a fast, free car report won't tell you whether the car is an accident survivor, it will help you pick the right vehicle history report to buy and that tells you everything you need to know.

Instructions

1

Take down the entire car VIN number which is located on the driver's side dashboard, along the edge of the windshield. It also is located on the frame of the car's door. Just open it and take down the VIN.

2

Log onto a website like CARFAX.com or AutoCheck.com, or go to another site that provides a link to these companies and click to get to their site. You will find a link for a free car report on both sites right on the home page. Click it and go to the page where you order the free car report. Do not select the paid report option.

3

Type in the car's VIN number in the box where it says "Enter VIN." Type the entire VIN and be careful not to leave out any numbers or letters. If you incorrectly type the number, you will not be able to download the free car report.

4

Click submit and then wait for the report to appear on your screen. Remember, this is a free car report so it will only show you the number of events recorded on the actual vehicle history. Read the number. If it is high, like 10 or more, purchase the full version of the car report to find out what incidents have occurred. It also will list mileage, oil changes and the number of owners.