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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 a private individual or a company. There's a belief that the latter offers greater security in purchasing a roadworthy vehicle. Furthermore, drivers place greater trust in companies, believing that the seller's declared specifications are accurate. However, even in this case, you can't be 100% certain. Always check the vehicle's history and VIN. Above all, trust yourself.
Car's mileage
Can a car with 200 km still have significant value? Does a 10-year-old car really only have 250 km, or is reality completely different? Mileage is crucial for driving comfort, roadworthiness, and the risk of breakdowns. It's one of the most important factors influencing a driver's purchasing decision. The odometer reading can tell us a lot about a car. The higher the mileage, the more damaged it likely is, but not always. Lower mileage means less wear and tear, which translates into lower repair costs. The problem arises, however, when the mileage is not original. Deceiving the truth is one of the tricks used by sellers to inflate the vehicle's price. Cars with lower mileage are also easier to sell. They travel through time, unfortunately, thereby 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 a low- mileage car better than a genuine, honest one? It's worth realizing that "low" can mean something completely different to everyone. For many drivers, the threshold for "low" mileage is 50 km. That's a relatively low mileage, provided it's truly accurate. Sometimes, however, it's worth giving higher-mileage vehicles a chance. Their true value may be higher than with lower mileage.
How to check the mileage of a car?
You should definitely do this before buying. Assess the interior and exterior, and inspect the vehicle for any signs of wear. If you notice worn pedals, a worn steering wheel, scuffs and discoloration in the upholstery, or paint chips, it likely means the car has a significant mileage. Such defects typically appear after driving around 100 km, or 200 km in the case of premium cars. How can you check a car's mileage to ensure the odometer reading is accurate?
- 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 buying a car is checking its history. If you're buying a used car, you should be sure that your investment is safe and worth the money. A vehicle's history is its past. It's a source of information about its life to date. You can't always trust a seller who, in an effort to sell quickly, provides false information. What does a vehicle's history include ?
- 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. Furthermore, checking it is free and can be done online. Visit Historiapojazd.gov.pl/ and enter the required information, such as the vehicle registration number, VIN, 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.
A VIN check will let you know if your chosen car is stolen or has been involved in an accident. It's also necessary to access the vehicle history database.
How to check VIN for free?
Checking the VIN is simple if you know where to look for this unique number. Every car has its own identification number, which you can find in the registration certificate. Find the box marked "E"; under it is the VIN. Also, compare it with the number on the vehicle's identification plate; they must be identical. This way, you know the car has most likely not been stolen. The plate is most often located on the entry steps, next to the door, but can also be found on the right wheel arch or near the right shock absorber.
Mileage, vehicle history, VIN checks… before buying a car, it's worth taking the time to thoroughly inspect it. The information you'll receive will help you rationally assess whether the vehicle is worth the price and meets your expectations.
