The car-buying process. It’s an incredibly involved task, of course, and there’s no quick way to decide on the right vehicle for your needs. However, if this is something you’ve been feeling unsure about, there’s some good news: a car history check can help. In line with this thought, today, we’re looking at why car history checks are so important. Hopefully, this will help you decide on the optimal approach to car buying for your needs.

What are Car History Checks? 

Before we go further, it’s first worth us taking a moment to clarify what car history checks are. A car history check is a handy tool that allows users to quickly view a vehicle’s history, providing numerous pieces of information that may be important in making your decision.

All you will typically need is the car’s number plate. This can then bring up a wealth of info about the car from basic details to financing history and more.

The Importance of Car History Checks 

There are several reasons that car history checks are so critical, which may include the following:

• • Verifying the car’s basic details. Car history checks allow you to view the car’s basic physical attributes, such as make, model, colour, and the like. In turn, this can help verify that the provided number plate likely matches the car. Notably, if your plate is registered to a blue Honda but you’re buying a green Vauxhall, this should raise questions.

• Checking past MOT history. It’s often useful to know what issues have cropped up in the past. This is where MOT history can be especially useful, as this allows you to see if the car has experienced issues. In turn, you can make informed choice based on whether the car is likely to be a safe bet. Additionally, this also highlights whether there are likely to be problems in need of prompt repair.

• Viewing mileage records. When buying a car, mileage is one of the most pivotal factors influencing the price. However, this can undoubtedly motivate some sellers to change the mileage display on the car. This isn’t illegal – however, legally, sellers must disclose that the mileage record is changed. Fortunately, car history checks allow you to view past mileage records, so you can check if the mileage has reduced.

• Checking stolen/write-off status. Unfortunately, it’s easy to come across a vehicle with less than open history. This can put people at significant risk of buying a car that was stolen or previously written off. Luckily, car history checks help with this, allowing you to see if a vehicle has hidden baggage.

• Looking for financing information. If a car has outstanding finance, car history checks will show this. In turn, this makes it safer to buy a car, ensuring you’re not taking on leftover repayments as well.

Final Thoughts

As we’ve seen today, car history checks are undoubtedly effective ways to safeguard your car purchase. However, you should always still take care to curry out due diligence when buying a new car. Always double check the seller seems genuine and take time to verify their authenticity and honesty. It might seem like a simple step, but this – coupled with your car history check – offers an important way to protect your purchase.