Checklists
Research checklist, worksheet, and glossary
Tools to organize your review of any used vehicle's records.
This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute insurance, legal, or financial advice. HistoryCheck Auto is not an insurance company, agent, or broker.
Research checklist
- Confirm the VIN on the dashboard, door jamb, and title all match.
- Review the title for any brand such as salvage, rebuilt, or flood.
- Check that odometer readings rise steadily across the record.
- Note the number of owners and the type of use for each period.
- Look for reported accidents or damage events and ask the seller about them.
- Compare service entries with the seller's own receipts.
- Look up open recalls by VIN using the official federal recall tool.
- Review the states where the vehicle was registered.
- Arrange an independent pre-purchase inspection by a mechanic you choose.
Record comparison worksheet
Print or copy this table to compare two vehicles side by side.
| Record | What to compare | Vehicle A | Vehicle B |
|---|---|---|---|
| Title status | Any brand listed, and the issuing state | ||
| Odometer | Last reading and whether readings rise steadily | ||
| Owners | Number of owners and type of use | ||
| Accidents | Number of reported events and descriptions | ||
| Service | Frequency of entries and gaps longer than a year | ||
| Recalls | Open recalls versus completed repairs |
History report glossary
- VIN
- The 17 character vehicle identification number unique to each vehicle.
- Title brand
- A label a state adds to a title to record a significant event, such as salvage or flood damage.
- Clean title
- A title with no brand recorded. It does not describe mechanical condition.
- Salvage
- A brand generally applied after a vehicle is declared a total loss.
- Rebuilt
- A brand generally applied after a salvage vehicle is repaired and passes a state inspection.
- Odometer rollback
- Illegally lowering an odometer reading. Inconsistent readings may be a sign.
- Lien
- A legal claim by a lender on a vehicle until a loan is repaid.