How to Locate the Owners of Pre-Owned Vehicles

A certified pre-owned vehicle is a previously purchased automobile obtained by a dealership, often with coverage remaining on the original manufacturer's warranty. Before the sale of a certified pre-owned vehicle, many automobile dealerships will perform an extensive vehicle inspection to guarantee the serviceability of the vehicle. This inspection, combined with relatively low mileage, make the certified pre-owned vehicle an attractive asset in the dealership's inventory. For search purposes, information on the previous owner of the vehicle is readily available through a number of channels.

Instructions

1

Contact the dealership that sold the vehicle, and request the names of the vehicle's previous owners. Certified pre-owned vehicles are often covered against mechanical defects by the original manufacturer's warranty. Paperwork outlining the dynamics of the warranty, along with information identifying the original purchaser, should be on file at the auto dealership. Although privacy concerns may prohibit the release of detailed information, you may be able to obtain the previous owner's name and the location of the original vehicle purchase.

2

Obtain the vehicle's 17-digit vehicle identification number, or VIN.

3

Submit the VIN to a vehicle reporting service using the service's online search tool to gather information on the history of the pre-owned vehicle. This action will generate a detailed report on the vehicle, often returning information on previous sales, title owners, any accidents and vehicle specifications.

4

Conduct a VIN, or title, search by visiting your local department of motor vehicles office. Generally a fee-based service, this method of locating previous vehicle owners is provided at many DMV locations for the purposes of a legal investigation and is often used by a licensed private investigator to generate a title history for a specific automobile. Many states require you to complete an application form to begin the certificate of title search. You can find a copy of this form at your local DMV office, or on the Internet via the DMV or department of licensing website. Submit this form with the applicable fee to initiate a title search.