Used car buyer guides
Free help for checking a used car, and what it will really cost, before you sign. No sign-up needed.
Check the car
Free VIN Recall Check
Enter a VIN to see which car it is, the safety recalls NHTSA has issued for its model year, and how many owner complaints are on file. It lists recalls issued for the model year, so confirm whether a repair was done on this car at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with a dealer.
Check a VIN →
What a clean history report can't tell you
What vehicle history reports usually show, what they often miss, the signs to check yourself, and why an independent inspection still matters.
Read the guide →
Check the price
Used car out-the-door price
What goes into the total you pay: the price, sales tax, title and registration, dealer fees and add-ons. Which parts you can negotiate, how a trade-in can lower the tax, and how to get an itemized quote.
Read the guide →
Used car dealer fees
Doc fees, prep charges, market adjustments, pre-installed add-ons and finance-office products: what each one is, which are normal, and what to ask before you sign.
Read the guide →
Check the model year
NHTSA recalls, owner complaints, crash-test ratings and EPA fuel economy for popular used cars.
- 2017 Toyota Camry records
- 2018 Honda Civic records
- 2019 Honda CR-V records
- 2019 Toyota RAV4 records
- 2018 Honda Accord records
- 2019 Toyota Corolla records
- 2018 Nissan Rogue records
- 2018 Chevrolet Equinox records
- 2018 Subaru Outback records
- 2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee records
Found a specific car?
These guides explain what to check. A Bear Score™ report ($29.99) checks one car: its records, its asking price against local listings, and its out-the-door total, with a Buy, Negotiate or Walk verdict when the data supports one.
Bear Score™ and Buy / Negotiate / Walk verdicts are decision support based on available information, not a guarantee of any vehicle’s condition or future reliability.