A vehicle history report is one tool, not a guarantee. Our reports bring together records from public sources and licensed data providers, but no database captures every event in a vehicle's life. If a report shows no record of an accident, flood or title problem, that does not prove one never happened. Always have a used vehicle inspected by an independent mechanic before you buy.
1. Where our data comes from
Free VIN check
Our free VIN check uses public data published by the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA):
- VIN decoding from NHTSA's Product Information Catalog and Vehicle Listing (vPIC) API, which reports the year, make, model, body style, engine and other specifications that manufacturers submit;
- Open safety recalls, owner-complaint counts and crash-test ratings from NHTSA's public recall, complaint and New Car Assessment Program data.
NHTSA data is often published at the model level. A recall listed for a model may not apply to every vehicle of that model, and a recall may already have been repaired. To confirm the recall status of a specific vehicle, check with the manufacturer or an authorized dealer.
Paid vehicle history reports
Full reports compile records from government and other public sources and from licensed third-party data providers. Depending on the vehicle, a report may include title brands (such as salvage, rebuilt, flood, lemon and junk), accident and damage records, odometer readings, vehicle-level ownership and registration events, auction and sale listings with photos, theft records, service and maintenance events and market value estimates. Reports never include owner names, addresses or other personal information.
2. Accuracy and completeness
We work to present data accurately, but we do not create the underlying records and cannot independently verify each one. You should be aware that:
- not every accident, repair or insurance claim is reported to a database, and many are handled privately or paid in cash;
- records can take weeks or months to reach our sources, so recent events may not appear;
- data providers and state agencies differ in what they report, and coverage varies by state, year and vehicle type;
- clerical errors at the source, such as a mistyped VIN or odometer reading, can lead to inaccurate or missing entries;
- market value estimates are computed from available sales data and are not appraisals or offers to buy;
- photos and listings from past sales reflect the vehicle at that time and may not show its current condition.
The absence of a record does not mean an event did not occur. Reports are provided "as is," as described in our Terms of Service.
3. Before you buy a vehicle
Use a report together with, not instead of, these steps:
- Get an independent pre-purchase inspection by a qualified mechanic you choose.
- Test-drive the vehicle in a range of conditions.
- Check that the VIN on the dashboard, door jamb and title all match.
- Review the title, service records and any warranty documents in person.
- Confirm open recalls with the manufacturer or a dealer.
4. NMVTIS consumer notice
The National Motor Vehicle Title Information System (NMVTIS) is a national database run under the oversight of the U.S. Department of Justice. It collects information from state motor vehicle titling agencies, insurance carriers, auto recyclers, junk yards and salvage yards. Its purpose is to help protect consumers from fraud and unsafe vehicles and to keep stolen vehicles from being resold.
CleanCarHistory is not an NMVTIS-approved data provider, and our reports are not NMVTIS reports. If you want an official NMVTIS vehicle history report, you can buy one from an approved provider listed on the official NMVTIS consumer site at https://vehiclehistory.bja.ojp.gov.
Please note what an NMVTIS report can and cannot tell you:
- It shows information reported to the system, such as the current state of title, the latest odometer reading on record, title brand history and whether the vehicle has been reported as a total loss by an insurer or handled by a salvage or junk business.
- Not every state reports to NMVTIS, and some states do not report all of their historical data, so records may be incomplete.
- It does not include detailed repair histories, and many accidents and damage events never reach it.
- The absence of a brand or total-loss record does not mean the vehicle is free of damage or other problems.
Like any history report, an NMVTIS report should be combined with a careful inspection of the vehicle before you buy.
5. FCRA notice
CleanCarHistory is not a consumer reporting agency as defined by the Fair Credit Reporting Act (15 U.S.C. § 1681 et seq.), and our reports are not consumer reports. Our reports describe vehicles, not individuals.
You may not use any report or information from CleanCarHistory, in whole or in part, as a factor in deciding whether a person is eligible for credit, insurance (including insurance underwriting), employment, housing or tenant screening, or for any other purpose for which a consumer report may be used under the FCRA. Doing so violates our Terms of Service and may violate federal and state law.
6. Reporting a possible error
If you believe information in a report is wrong, email support@cleancarshistory.us with the VIN, the record in question and any documents that support your concern. We will review it and, where appropriate, pass it to the data source. We cannot change records held by government agencies or other providers ourselves, but many sources correct records when an error is confirmed.
7. Related policies
See our DPPA Compliance statement for how license plate lookups work, our Privacy Policy for how we handle your information, and our Refund Policy for when a report can be refunded.