Vehicle Intelligence7 min read
Understanding Vehicle History Reports
A history report can reveal past damage, title issues and service gaps. Here's how to read one critically.
Autosavvy101 Editorial
A vehicle history report compiles records from registries, insurers and service providers into a single timeline of a vehicle's past.
What to Look For
- Title brands — salvage, rebuilt or flood
- Accident and damage records
- Odometer readings over time
- Consistency of service intervals
Read It Critically
A clean report is reassuring but not a guarantee. Gaps in the record can mean missing information rather than no problems.
Use the report as one input alongside a physical inspection and a test drive — never as the only one.
Cross-check the report's details against the vehicle itself. Inconsistencies between paper and reality deserve questions.