If you are in the market for a used car, you simply cannot afford not to use AutoCheck buyback protection. Used vehicles often come with a myriad of uncovered mechanical issues or past problems. Imagine driving down the road in your newly purchased used car and, all of a sudden, you break down and are at a dead stop in the middle of nowhere. Upon visiting a mechanic, you may learn that your vehicle is suffering from any number of problems, things you probably wish you had known prior to making your purchase. This is where AutoCheck buyback protection comes in. By using this service, you can “insure” your purchase, and be certain that if you run in to problems, you will be fully compensated for the cost of the car.

(Please note: This is my personal review of the AutoCheck buyback protection program. You can learn more about Autocheck vehicle purchase protection by visiting their website here.)

The Company Behind AutoCheck Buyback Protection

AutoCheck is a VIN number lookup service which aids car buyers in the used vehicle market. During the course of shopping for used cars, customers can utilize AutoCheck’s history reports not only to verify the claims made by the seller, but to be sure that the car is free of major issues. In essence, you can think of AutoCheck as a “credit report” on a used car. If the vehicle has ever been in accident, experienced significant damage, or undergone major repairs, an AutoCheck report can dig it up for you.

By purchasing an AutoCheck vehicle history report, buyers are informed of every issue present with a used vehicle. The report includes a wealth of information, including whether or not the vehicle has ever been in accident. Should that be the case, AutoCheck even displays what type of accident it was and the point of impact on the car, as well as the extent of damage sustained. Title checks are another feature which help to verify the car’s accident history. Other facets of a used car such as water damage and odometer readings are also verified in the report. It is easy to see how utilizing an AutoCheck report can offer peace of mind when it comes to buying a used car.

How AutoCheck Buyback Protection Works

One additional feature of this service is AutoCheck buyback protection. This service insures your purchase, as AutoCheck offers to buy back any used car you purchase which has issues not identified in the report. Once you run a report on a vehicle VIN number, you are automatically eligible for AutoCheck purchase protection, so long as the car does not have any known issues. The buyback feature is AutoCheck’s way of guaranteeing their work. Should you choose to invest in AutoCheck buyback protection, you are eligible to receive up to 110% of the car’s value, plus $500 in aftermarket accessories, in the event that a problem is discovered that AutoCheck failed to identify.

AutoCheck buyback protection is different than other buyback guarantees in two important ways. First, AutoCheck is one of few vehicle history reporting agencies which offers buyback on aftermarket items. Second, the AutoCheck purchase program can never be cancelled by the company, unlike some agencies which retain the right to cancel the guarantee at their convenience.

Countless customers have used AutoCheck buyback protection with resounding success. Thanks to AutoCheck’s detailed reports, buyback protection is rarely needed, although it is certainly an excellent safety measure to take when buying a used car. Often times, used cars are bought from owners who themselves may not even be aware of the vehicle’s history. By utilizing AutoCheck VIN number lookup reports, you can be sure that you are getting the most comprehensive history on the vehicle. And, of course, AutoCheck buyback protection is the ultimate in insuring your vehicle purchase. If your used car presents issues not reported by AutoCheck, they buy the car from you, no questions asked.

** For more information on AutoCheck buyback protection, or to start running vehicle history reports, visit AutoCheck here…

Conducting a VIN number lookup will save you time, money and frustration during the used car buying process!

(Important: If you need to run a VIN number lookup now – Click Here to get a vehicle history report emailed to you in minutes!)

As someone who has dealt with used vehicles for years, I can tell you that purchasing a used car can be risky if you don’t know exactly what you are paying for. Unfortunately you simply can’t trust a seller to give you the full scoop on a vehicle’s history and this could cost you hundreds or even thousands of dollars. The good news is that there is a fast and easy way to ensure you aren’t buying a junker and make the used car buying experience much more enjoyable.

Conduct a VIN number lookup / VIN number check to obtain a vehicle history report…

A VIN number lookup or VIN number check is when you run the VIN number of a car, truck or motorcycle using a vehicle history service like AutoCheck or Carfax. (Read my comprehensive AutoCheck Vs Carfax review here!) The process is fast, inexpensive and will protect you from wasting your hard earned money on a potential lemon.

Here are just a handful of things that a VIN number search vehicle history report will reveal to you…

How many previous owners has the vehicle had?
Does the odometer show an accurate mileage?
Has the vehicle ever been in an accident?
Does the vehicle have a clean title or has it been branded as salvaged?
Is their a lien on the car, truck or motorcycle?
Has the vehicle ever been stolen or repossessed?
Plus much more…

Doesn’t it just make sense to have answers to these questions before you shell out thousands of dollars? Of course it does, especially when a VIN number lookup service like AutoCheck allows you to unlimited vehicle history reports for one low price.

(Click Here To Grab An AutoCheck Vehicle History Report)

Are VIN number lookup / VIN number check vehicle history reports hard to read and understand?

One thing I really appreciate about AutoCheck VIN Number lookup reports is that they are easy to read and clearly explain any problems with a potential used car. Let me show you what I’m talking about.

Here is a screenshot of an AutoCheck VIN number lookup for a 2000 Chevy Blazer I found on Craigslist…

Now this is only the first page known as the “report summary” but as you can see, there is a ton of information to help me decide if I should pursue this vehicle or not. Just reading over the vehicle history report summary I’m able to find out that this blazer has 1 reported accident, has a major title problem reported, has accurate mileage and has some vehicle use issues. As I read further into the VIN number search report, I’m able to get more details about each of these issues.

Besides providing background information, AutoCheck compiles a summary of the vehicles history and awards it an AutoCheck score. This score will reveal how a vehicle stacks up to similar vehicles that are being sold. As you can see on the VIN number check screenshot above, the 2000 Blazer I looked up has a score of 28 while similar vehicles are scoring in the 54 to 76 range.

Needless to say, this vehicle was not worth the money that the seller was asking and I ended up purchasing another Blazer that had better credentials for the same price. The best part is that I never wasted any gas checking out this vehicle. The seller had sent me pictures, a description and the VIN number so I could conduct a VIN number look up before driving 100 miles to look at and possibly purchase the car.

In closing, it only costs about $45 to search VIN numbers with the AutoCheck service for 30 days. For the cost of taking the family to the movies, you can run unlimited VIN number lookup reports and feel confident about making a used car purchase.

***  Click Here To Run A VIN Number Lookup Using The #1 Vehicle History Report Provider – AutoCheck!

Many people actively search the Internet looking for a place that they can conduct a free VIN number lookup. This really doesn’t surprise me since we all want to save a buck whenever possible. With that being said, I wanted to chat about the concept of a free VIN number lookup and reveal if there are really ways to acquire a vehicle history report for free.

(Run Unlimited VIN Checks For One Low Price – Click Here To Find Out How!)

In my last post, I discussed the difference between the two major VIN number lookup services (AutoCheck vs Carfax) and recommended AutoCheck for a handful of different reasons (one of them being price). What used car purchasers need to understand is that there really are only two ways to find out if you are buying a lemon or not.

You can either…

a.) Pay for a VIN number lookup / vehicle history report from AutoCheck.
b.) Have a certified mechanic look over the vehicle before purchasing.

Unfortunately both of these options cost money. So unless you’re a mechanic or have a really good mechanic friend who owes you a favor you’re going to have to spend a few bucks. There also isn’t a free VIN number lookup website available so I don’t recommend wasting your time searching for one.

While the concept of a free VIN number lookup doesn’t exist, it doesn’t mean you can’t get creative and have someone else pay for it. Why not get the seller to pay the costs associated with an AutoCheck vehicle history report?

Let me explain…

You can always use a VIN number check as a bargaining tool when reviewing used cars. The best way to do this is establish with the seller upfront that you won’t buy anything without conducting a VIN number lookup first. Then let them know that you would like them to deduct the cost of the vehicle history report from the purchase price of the car.

That means that if the seller is asking $5,000 for the vehicle, request $50 off for the costs associated with an AutoCheck VIN number lookup. Using this strategy you can count on an additional $50 deduction from any used car you purchase and you will have a clear understanding of the car’s history.

I’ve personally used this strategy many times and was able to save even more money simply because of what turned up on the AutoCheck vehicle history report. Any little ding against a potential vehicle gives you more room to negotiate a lower price. In fact, on my last Craigslist vehicle purchase, I was able to get the buyer to discount the price by 25% by simply reviewing the AutoCheck report I ran on the vehicle.

In closing, the concept of a free VIN number lookup service simply doesn’t exist but paid services like AutoCheck are the key to making a smart used car buying decision. The minimal costs associated with a VIN number lookup now will save you time, money and frustration down the road.

(Don’t Buy A Lemon -Save Thousands By Running A VIN Number Lookup Now)

One question that I’ve had several inquires about is the ongoing battle of Autocheck Vs Carfax and which service is better? Lets face it, running a VIN number lookup to obtain a vehicle history report is one of the smartest things you can do when purchasing a used car. No matter which service you choose to use, AutoCheck or Carfax, both of them can arm you with valuable information and are well worth the money.

Having experience using both the AutoCheck and Carfax VIN number lookup services I figured I would chime in on how they work and which one is better based on my experience.

AutoCheck Vs Carfax: What service is priced better?

Going on straight value for the money, AutoCheck costs less than Carfax to run a single inquiry (As of right now, AutoCheck is $29.99 and Carfax is $34.99). AutoCheck also has an option where they allow you to run unlimited reports over a 30 day period for $44.99. CarFax’s answer to that is a 5 reports for $44.99 option.

I have to give the edge to AutoCheck when judging on price simply because they cost less and provide an unlimited reports option. While some people might only check out 5 different used cars before making a purchase, most people will take a look at many more. Having 30 days to run unlimited VIN number search reports is definitely an advantage and will help you make an intelligent purchasing decision.

AutoCheck Vs Carfax:  Who provides more detailed reports?

This is a tough one for me because I’ve heard some people say that Carfax is more detailed while others think AutoCheck does a better job. I’ve personally pulled vehicle history reports using both services and can’t say that one is better than the other one.

Both AutoCheck and Carfax stand behind their products and offer a vehicle buyback program if their data turns out to be faulty. I can’t say that I’ve ever ran into any problems with the accuracy of both companies VIN number check reports so I don’t have any experience with either buy back program.

One thing I will say is that AutoCheck is backed by Experian who is one of the big 3 credit reporting agencies. Having Experian backing up AutoCheck is a definite plus and lends a ton of credibility to the product they provide.

As far as who provides better vehicle history reports, I have to say that this part of the AutoCheck vs Carfax competition is a draw.

AutoCheck Vs Carfax:  Who does a better job marketing?

Most people have heard of Carfax simply because of their television commercials and clever advertising (ie. Show me the Carfax). While AutoCheck provides just as good, if not better product, they definitely lack on their marketing and haven’t become a household name.

So when it comes to marketing and advertising, the people at Carfax have done a great job creating a brand while AutoCheck has kind of hung out in the shadows. Of course, having catchy slogans shouldn’t matter to you simply because you are looking to get the most accurate VIN number lookup report for the least amount of money.

AutoCheck Vs Carfax: Which one do I suggest?

While I’ve used both AutoCheck and Carfax over the past several years, I usually steer people towards the AutoCheck VIN number lookup service simply because they are priced better and will allow you to run unlimited reports.

(Click Here To Get An Instant Vehicle History Report From AutoCheck)

AutoCheck also provides an overall grade for each vehicle you review called an AutoCheck score. This score is a simple way to evaluate a vehicles history when checking out multiple used cars and trucks. Since many people that are new to the used car buying process might not know everything to look for on a vehicle history report, the AutoCheck score is a great way to see the overall quality of the used cars you are investigating. Therefore, in the Autocheck Vs Carfax debate, I’m going to have to side with AutoCheck.

Before purchasing any type of used vehicle it’s important to both find a VIN number conduct a VIN number lookup to research the history of the car, truck or motorcycle you are thinking about buying. Unfortunately, there are many people out there who don’t know how to find a VIN number on a vehicle and/or how to plug that information into a VIN number search service like AutoCheck.

(Please Note:  If you already have the VIN number ready you can run a VIN number lookup by CLICKING HERE.)

With that in mind, today I’m going to write about how these numbers work, where to find a VIN number on a vehicle and how to use this information to conduct a VIN number lookup to retrieve a vehicle history report.

Part #1 – What Does a VIN Number Look Like?

First off, the acronym VIN stands for Vehicle Identification Number. The number is made up of seventeen characters that consist of both numbers and letters. Much like each person has a unique fingerprint, each car has a unique VIN number that can provide vital information about the real history of a vehicle.

Side note: If a vehicle was produced before 1981 then the VIN number will have between 11 and 17 characters (numbers or letters). If the vehicle was produced after this time then it must have 17 characters.

Part #2 – How to Find a VIN number on a Car or Truck.

The two easiest places to find a 17 digit truck or car VIN number is either in the front driver’s side dash (look for a metal strip) or front drivers side door jam by the door latch.

Although the number might look a bit different depending on the make, model and year of the vehicle, here is an example of what one might look like.

If you are having difficulty reading or finding the VIN number through the windshield or door jam then you can also check on the insurance card or vehicle title for this information.

Part #3 – How to Find a VIN number on a Motorcycle.

When trying to find a VIN number on a motorcycle you will want to check out all sides of the steering head of the bike. There you should be able to see a metal plate with information either engraved or printed on it.

The first 3 numbers will tell you who the manufacturer of the bike is. This means that all bikes with the same make should have the same 3 characters to start their VIN number. The next 6 characters will indicate certain characteristics of the bike and the last 8 characters provide a specific set of numbers and letters that are unique to only that motorcycle.

Part #4 – How to Run a VIN Number Lookup or VIN Number Check.

After you find the VIN number now all you need to do is utilize a VIN number lookup service like AutoCheck to retrieve the background information on a vehicle. Essentially all you will do is plug in the 17 character number and let the AutoCheck system do the rest.

I prefer to search VIN numbers using AutoCheck over other services like CarFax because they cost less, allow you to run unlimited reports over a 30 day period for one low price (essential when checking out multiple vehicles), and their reports are extremely accurate. (Click Here To Run An AutoCheck Vin Number Lookup!)

Part #5 – Additional VIN Number Check Tips

If you are like me, you might be searching for used cars on the Internet. For example, I buy a lot of vehicles on craigslist and eBay that are located several hundred miles away from my location. If you want to save yourself time and frustration then ask the seller of the vehicle to find the VIN number and provide it to you over the phone.

This way, you can get the car history by VIN number before taking the time and gas to check out the car in person. If a seller doesn’t want to provide this information over the phone then don’t waste your time checking out the vehicle. Odds are that you wouldn’t want to deal with someone trying to withhold information from you in the first place.

In closing, many people who are new to purchasing used cars simply don’t know what to look for when making a purchase. This is why learning how to find a VIN number on a vehicle and conduct a VIN number look up are important steps when it comes to the used car buying process. You don’t have to be a mechanic when you know how to find a VIN number and use it to retrieve accurate vehicle history reports from your home computer.