At Ray Price Chevrolet, we provide a free AutoCheck® vehicle history report (VHR) with every certified pre-owned (CPO) car on our lot. When we do, we often have drivers around the Mount Pocono, Scranton, and East Stroudsburg areas ask us how to read a vehicle history report and what kind of information to look out for.
This is a great question, and it's important to know the answer when you're buying a used car in Tobyhanna and Stroudsburg. So, our team put together a quick guide.
First, let's cover what, exactly, a VHR is.
What Is A Vehicle History Report?
A vehicle history report uses the vehicle identification number (VIN) to look up the car's detailed history including accident history and number of previous owners.
VHRs are available for purchase online by inputting the car's VIN or license plate number. However, the easiest way to get one is by shopping for a certified pre-owned car at your local dealership. Most dealers will gladly provide this resource for free.
The next question is, how do you read a vehicle history report? We recommend looking at four key pieces of information:
1. Consider The Score
If you're reading a vehicle history report from AutoCheck®, take a look at the score. The scale covers a range from zero to 100. Cars with a higher score tend to be in better condition than those with lower scores. Luckily, most dealerships will prefer to carry cars on the upper level of the range, especially in the certified pre-owned inventory.
2. Check The Mileage
It's always a good idea to consider how many miles the car has on the odometer. Typically, we expect a used car to have a mileage of 12,000-20,000 miles per year. This indicates that the car has been used an average amount and should exhibit the average amount of wear and tear.
There are variations, of course, in how many miles a used car should have, but in general, the more miles a car has, the more maintenance and upkeep it's likely to need.
3. Look At The Maintenance Record
One vital piece of information that you'll get from a VHR is the maintenance record. This will show you all the car's service appointment over the course of its life. You'll want to make sure that it's been properly maintained, so look for a visit at least once per year-if not twice-to take care of all its routine maintenance needs. Also look for any major accidents or damages.
4. Count The Previous Owners
When reading a vehicle history report, we also recommend looking at the number of previous owners. Cars with fewer previous owners tend to have experienced a more consistent driving technique and more regular care. Often, this kind of consistency works well for a car's long-term dependability.
We'll Show You How To Read A Vehicle History Report
If you have any other questions about how to read a vehicle history report while shopping for a car in the Mount Pocono, Stroudsburg, and Tobyhanna area, come to Ray Price Chevrolet. We can also show you any used cars you may be interested in driving around Scranton or East Stroudsburg and help you get a VHR to review.
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