Ever think of buying a vehicle history report (VHR)? These reports can be invaluable for providing information but also for potentially saving thousands of dollars.
Vehicle history reports furnish you with information that you cannot readily see. For example, a vehicle history report can tell you whether the odometer has been tampered with on the Elantra you are thinking of buying. That is something you cannot determine just by looking at the dashboard or the odometer. This information includes whether the odometer has been subject to a rollback (in other words, someone has actually rolled back the original miles on the odometer and what you see is less than the actual miles) or whether the odometer is physically incapable of showing the actual miles - in other words, the vehicle has so many miles on it that the odometer cannot record them.
Other facts the VHR may show is whether the Elantra you want to drive has ever been declared a "lemon." Many states now have "lemon" laws. These laws protect vehicle buyers from having to keep a vehicle that cannot be fixed. You have heard of cars that, no matter what is done to them in the way of repairs and upgrades, the vehicles simply do not operate correctly. Therefore, consumers have the option of returning these vehicles for a refund or exchange. If this has occurred with the Elantra you would like to purchase, it will show up on the VHR. This is a major "red flag," so think deeply about whether or not you want to purchase a "lemon," not matter how much it has been fixed up and repaired.
You can also buy an "unlimited" type of VHR. This means that you can shop for any number of vehicles, and within a specified to period (usually 60 days) you can test drive and investigate as many Elantras as you would like and obtain vehicle history reports on all of them. That way you don't have to buy separate VHR for each vehicle if there is more than one you are considering.
VHRs also can tell you whether the Elantra you are considering has ever been considered a salvage vehicle. If a vehicle has been damaged by a flood, a fire or even a hailstorm, this information will show up on the VHR. Someone may have taken the time and put in the effort towards repairing the vehicle so that it can now be sold legally, but it is good to know the background of the vehicle you are thinking of purchasing.
If you want to purchase a VHR, you are going to need the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) from the car. The VIN is located on the dashboard immediately to the left of the driver as he or she faces the front. This 16-digit number that can also be located on the driver's side door post (where the door latches when it is closed). Documents that show your VIN are your insurance and registration papers.
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