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ABC of buying a car – how to check the car's mileage and VIN number?
(photo: pxhere)
There are many doubts and questions when buying a car. Is the selected vehicle in as good a condition as its owner declares? Isn't it stolen? Or maybe he was involved in an accident in the past? What is its story? To be sure that you have made a good choice, you should collect basic information about it. Its VIN number may be helpful in this regard. Thanks to it, you can confirm the mileage of the car.
You can buy a used car from private individuals or companies. There is a belief that in the second case there is greater security of purchasing a functional vehicle. In addition, drivers have greater trust in companies, believing that the technical data declared by the seller are consistent with the current ones. However, in this case too you cannot be 100% sure. Always check vehicle history and VIN. Trust yourself above all.
Car's mileage
Is a car with a mileage of 200? km can still be of great value? Does a 10-year-old car really only have 250 miles on it? km or maybe the reality is completely different? Car's mileage is very important for driving comfort, efficiency and the risk of failures. This is one of the most important factors that influences the driver's purchasing decision. The odometer reading can tell us a lot about the car. If the mileage is higher, the car is probably more damaged, but not always. Smaller car's mileage means that it is used less, which translates into the need to incur less repair expenses. However, the problem arises when car's mileage it is not original. Deceiving reality is one of the tricks of sellers who want to increase the price of the vehicle. Cars with lower mileage are also easier to sell. They travel back in time, unfortunately deceiving potential buyers.
Therefore, meter readings are extremely important, but you should not base your purchase solely on its data. It is not uncommon for a car with high mileage to be very well-kept and in really good condition. Also pay attention to other features of the vehicle, such as the condition of the body or the appearance of its interior.
Is small better? car's mileage is it original and honest? It is worth realizing that "small" may mean something completely different for everyone. For many drivers, the limit for "low" mileage is 50. km. This is relatively few kilometers traveled, of course if it is a real value. However, sometimes it is worth giving vehicles with higher mileage a chance. It may turn out that their actual value is higher than in the case of lower mileage.
How to check the mileage of a car?
You should definitely do this before purchasing. Assess its interior and body, and inspect the vehicle for any signs of use. If you notice worn pedals, a worn steering wheel, abrasions and discolorations on the upholstery and paint defects, it means that the car has most likely had a long history behind it. Such defects usually appear after approximately 100 miles. km, in the case of premium cars after 200 km. How to check the mileage of a car, to be sure whether the counter reading is correct?
- Carefully check the quality of all equipment elements
- Compare the current equipment with the equipment when you left the showroom
- Confirmation of the car's mileage is only possible at some car services
Vehicle history
Another important step in purchasing a car is checking its history. If you are buying a used car, you should be sure that your investment is safe and worth the money. Vehicle history it's his past. This is a source of information about what his "life" has been like so far. You cannot always trust a seller who, wanting to sell your car quickly, provides false information. Which contains vehicle history?
- Technical data of the car, such as engine power and capacity
- Technical inspections, along with their exact date
- The value of the counter, i.e car's mileage, read during the last technical inspection. Please note that the counter may not show the actual value
- Information about having valid third party liability insurance
- Number of owners
- Information whether the car was owned by a private person or a company
- Possible entry into the stolen car database
Vehicle history is available to everyone. Moreover, checking it is free and you can use this option online. go to the website Historiapojazdu.gov.pl/ and enter the required data, such as the vehicle registration number, VIN number and date of first registration.
VIN check
What is a VIN and why is it so important to check it? It consists of seventeen characters, letters and numbers, it is a unique number and assigned to one specific car. It is used to verify the car, e.g. before a potential buyer. According to the ISO standard, the VIN number includes:
- WMI – the first three characters that are the manufacturer's global symbol
- VDS – another 5-6 characters corresponding to the encoded technical data
- VIS – usually 8 consecutive characters indicating the vehicle's serial number.
VIN check will allow you to find out whether the selected car is stolen or whether it has been involved in an accident in the past. It is also necessary to access the database vehicle history.
How to check VIN for free?
VIN checking is simple if you know where to look for this unique number. Each car has its own identification number, which you will find in the registration certificate. Find the field marked with the letter "E", under it is the VIN number. Moreover, compare it with the number that is also present on the rating plate, they must be identical. This lets you know that the car was most likely not stolen. The place for the plate is most often on the entrance steps, right next to the door, but also on the right wheel arch or near the right shock absorber.
Car mileage, vehicle history, VIN check...Before buying a car, it is worth spending more time to thoroughly verify the car. The data you receive will help you rationally assess whether the vehicle is worth the price and whether it meets your expectations.
