Buying a used vehicle can save you thousands of dollars off the original sticker price – even for vehicle only one or two years old. However, buying used comes with some risk. As soon as the car is driven off the lot, anything can – and does – happen. If you are the kind of person that likes to minimize risk as much as possible, then the vehicle history report and pre-purchase inspection is the perfect 1-2 combination for you. You’ll be sure to knock out any lemons from your search.

Is it Worth It?

Before we get into details, let’s answer the cost issue first. These services do come with a cost. But as mentioned, this strategy is for those that want to minimize risk. Think about it: for less than $200 you can know as much as possible about the used car you are buying. An unexpected repair would cost at least that much and probably more. Plus, you might actually discover a used car, at a cheap price, in unusually good condition with a clean record. This would well be worth the cost of the vehicle inspection and history report combination.

Now let’s take a look at each component.

Number One – The Vehicle History Report

These reports take the vehicle identification number (VIN) and track all reported information about the vehicle. Things like structural damage, number of owners, service visits, and recent odometer readings are all available. This helps you know if anything major went wrong with the vehicle or if the odometer was rolled back.

Order a vehicle history report from a CARCHEX partner today.

Number Two – Pre-Purchase Inspection

A used car pre-purchase inspection involves sending a qualified inspector to inspect any car in the country. Now you might think you can do this job yourself, but unless you have experience, it’s best to leave it to the pros. These inspectors know exactly where to look for signs of damage or wear that the one-time buyer could miss. They are around cars all the time and know how problems look, sound, and feel.

Order a pre-purchase used car inspection today.

The Combo

As you can see, with these two services you get the clearest picture possible about any used car you might want to purchase. For example, odometer rollbacks can’t be spotted by a car inspection. On the other hand, a rattling engine might not show up on the history report if the vehicle has not been serviced yet. But when you combine the history report with the inspection, pretty much nothing will fall through the cracks.

Want To Be As Sure As Possible?

If this kind of security interests you, then give us a call at 1-877-CARCHEX and we can set up a vehicle history report and a pre-purchase car inspection for any used vehicle out there. Or you can order a vehicle history report online from our partner CARFAX while we handle the car inspection process ourselves. Buy your next used car with the highest level of confidence possible by getting all the info you need from CARCHEX.