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Buyer's guide

A clean vehicle history report isn't a clean bill of health

A vehicle history report lists what was reported about a car: titles, some accidents, some service, odometer readings. A clean one means nothing was reported. It doesn't mean nothing happened, and it says nothing about how the car runs today.

What a history report can and can't show

Reports differ by company, because each draws on its own sources. Most work the same way.

RecordUsually showsOften missing
AccidentsUsually shows: Accidents that police or insurers reported to the company that made the report.Often missing: Accidents settled privately, paid for in cash, or never reported to anyone.
Repairs and serviceUsually shows: Work done at shops and dealers that share their records with that company.Often missing: Work at shops that don’t share records, and how well any repair was done.
Title brandsUsually shows: Brands a state put on the title, such as salvage, rebuilt, flood or lemon.Often missing: Damage that never led to a brand, and some brands that did not carry over when a car was retitled.
OdometerUsually shows: Readings recorded at title transfers, inspections and some service visits.Often missing: The reading today, and anything that happened between recorded readings.
RecallsUsually shows: Some reports list recalls issued for the model year.Often missing: Whether the repair was done on this car. Check the VIN free at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
ConditionUsually shows: Nothing. A report is a list of records, not an inspection.Often missing: Leaks, rust, worn brakes and tires, and how the engine and transmission run today.

A report tells you where to look. It can't tell you what a mechanic would find, or whether the price is fair.

Signs to check yourself

None of these proves damage on its own, but each is a reason to ask questions and have a mechanic look.

  • Uneven gaps between body panels, or doors and the hood that don't close cleanly.
  • Paint that doesn't quite match between panels, or paint overspray on rubber seals and trim.
  • Tool marks on the bolts that hold the fenders, hood or doors.
  • A musty smell, damp carpet, water lines or silt under the seats and in the trunk.
  • Rust in places it shouldn't be for the car's age, such as seat rails or under the dashboard.
  • Warning lights that stay on after start-up, or tires worn unevenly across the tread.
  • An odometer reading that doesn't fit the service records or the wear on the pedals and seats.

How to check a used car properly

  1. Treat a history report as one input. Read every line, including the ones marked minor.
  2. Check the recalls issued for the model year, then confirm repairs by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
  3. Read the title document itself and compare its VIN with the car and the paperwork.
  4. Ask the seller for service records and for anything they know about past damage, in writing.
  5. Get an independent pre-purchase inspection, by a mechanic you choose, before you agree to buy.
  6. Then decide what the car is worth, given what the inspection found.

For what the final total includes, see the out-the-door price guide and the dealer fees guide.

Check the records and the price

A Bear Score™ report ($29.99) is not a vehicle history report and does not include accident history. It checks one car's public records and its price:

  • Its asking price compared with similar cars listed by local dealers, when local listings are available
  • When enough similar local listings exist, an estimate of what the dealer likely paid and a target offer
  • Estimated out-the-door totals for your state, at the asking price and, when there is one, at the target
  • The finance-office add-ons worth declining
  • A Buy, Negotiate or Walk verdict when the data supports one, with the evidence behind it
Enter a VIN or listing link →See a sample report

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.

Common questions

Does a clean history report mean the car has never been in an accident?

No. It means no accident was reported to the company that made the report. Accidents that were settled privately or never reported to police or an insurer usually don’t appear.

Why would an accident not show up?

History reports are built from records that police, insurers, states and shops share. If the owner paid for the repair themselves and no report or claim was filed, there may be no record to find.

Do I still need an inspection if the report is clean?

Yes. A report lists past records; an independent mechanic checks the car as it is today. They find different things, so a clean report is a reason to inspect, not a reason to skip it.

What is a branded title?

A permanent mark a state puts on a car’s title, such as salvage, rebuilt, flood or lemon. It usually lowers the car’s value and can affect insurance and financing. Read the title document itself, not only a report about it.

Is an AutoBear report a vehicle history report?

No. A Bear Score™ report checks the car’s public safety and reliability records and its asking price against local listings. It does not include accident history, so use a separate history report and an inspection alongside it.

Checking a car's safety recalls is free: run its VIN, or browse model-year records.