Avoid These Three Car Auction Issues With a VIN Report

Buying a car sight unseen has had a huge stigma attached to it for years, but it’s slowly fading with the help of online resources. The way we store and track information nowadays is astonishing, and the internet gives you access to more vehicle data than ever before, including instant VIN reports.

When you’re looking for salvage cars on online car auction websites like AutoBidMaster, it’s important to find out as much as you can about the vehicle you’re interested in before placing a bid. A comprehensive VIN report can save you loads of trouble. Here are three serious issues it can help you avoid.

Title Washing

Title washing occurs when a vehicle with a branded title, often due to flood, fire, hail, or other damage, is re-registered in a state that doesn’t recognize that particular type of title brand. People use this method to conceal a vehicle’s history and increase its apparent value. The practice can be fraudulent and illegal.

By using a car VIN lookup, you can uncover important details about a vehicle’s title and damage history. So, if a car you find on a salvage car auction website looks too good to be true, you can check its history before placing a bid.

Odometer Rollback

People trying to get the most out of a damaged or aging vehicle can get crafty, and odometer fraud remains a serious problem. In fact, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) estimates that more than 450,000 vehicles are sold each year with false odometer readings.

This is especially important if you can’t conduct an in-person inspection, since many warning signs are physical. A VIN report may include odometer readings recorded at different points in the car’s life, allowing you to look for discrepancies and save yourself from buying a vehicle with way more miles than you expected.

Cheap Repairs

Sometimes, you’ll find vehicles listed with “partial repair” on online car auction websites. While they may look alright, it’s important to check whether the vehicle was ever declared a total loss.

Some people buy damaged cars, make cosmetic repairs, and resell them at a profit without addressing underlying issues. A VIN lookup can help reveal a vehicle’s title and damage history, while a ClearVin report may also include photos if the car was previously sold through an auction.

Order a ClearVin Report Right Through AutoBidMaster

One of the things that separates us from other salvage car auction websites is that you can order a comprehensive VIN report through ClearVin.com right from the lot listing page.

If you’re browsing online car auctions today, you can access helpful tools and services, from VIN reports to shipping options, all in one place.

Use our Vehicle Finder to start your search.

If you need help registering or placing a bid, feel free to give us a call at +1 (503) 298-4300 between 6:00 AM and 4:00 PM, Monday through Friday, Pacific Standard Time. You can also email us at support@AutoBidMaster.com or contact us via WhatsApp.

Happy bidding!