A car history report is an important piece of document that all car buyers need before making a buying commitment. Traditionally, it is cumbersome to retrieve a car history report, mainly due to lack of communication tools. Today, with easy access to the Internet, you can get a full car history report with a few simple clicks.

First of all, why is a car history report so important?

You need the report to help you make a better buying decision. Your primary concern would the condition of the car. The more you know about the car, the easier it is for you to make a decision. For example, the car history report will reveal details such as car frame condition, odometer condition, all special events that happened to the car such as theft or accidents, and more. Based on the report, you will then be able to come to a conclusion as to whether the price is too high or not.

Of course, the obvious choice would be to buy a car that is accident free. A car that has been previously involved in an accident is likely to have been damaged in some way. After repairs, it is hard to assess the extent of the damage. Here is where you rely on the car history report for details. Based on the report, you will be able to make educated guesses on the extent of damage and the overall condition of the car. If there is a high chance of the car breaking down in future, it is best to avoid the purchase.

In general, there are two types of car history report that you can purchase. A report will cost you a small fee. But it's a small sum to pay compared to potential repair costs for buying a car in poor condition.

The first type of car report is a full-fledged report, but there is no rating system. In other words, you can't easily compare between one car and another without having to read every line of the report. This makes it difficult if you wish to compare various makes and models.

Another type of car history report, offered by AutoCheck, has a rating system. Every report that you buy from AutoCheck comes with a AutoCheck Score. This is a very useful number that you can use to compare car history reports. It's a single number that is easy to understand. It allows you to assess the risk of making a purchase. The score ranges from 1 to 100. A higher score means that there is less risk. So with a single glance, you will immediately be able to tell which car is a better purchase.

Autocheck gets its car data from thousands of car dealers across the country. Data is compiled from many reliable sources such as Department of Motor Vehicles, insurance companies, etc.