Used Car Buying Guides That Help You Check Before You Buy

Learn how to check VIN reports, title history, accident records, mileage problems, branded titles, and other used car red flags before you hand over money.

Run a VIN Check Before You Buy

Start with the latest guides below to learn what to check before you buy, what red flags to watch for, and when a used car may not be worth the risk.

Latest Used Car Buying Guides

Badly damaged car being loaded onto a tow truck for an article answering is a salvage title bad

Is a Salvage Title Bad? Risks, Red Flags, and When to Walk Away

Title & Paperwork

Is a salvage title bad? For the average car buyer, yes, it usually is. Whether...

Mechanic inspecting the underside of a used car on a lift for an article answering is a rebuilt title bad

Is a Rebuilt Title Bad? Pros, Cons, and Red Flags Before You Buy

Title & Paperwork

Is a rebuilt title bad? It depends on what caused the original total loss and...

How to Tell if an Odometer Has Been Rolled Back

VIN & Vehicle History

Knowing how to tell if an odometer has been rolled back is one of the...

Mechanic inspecting a car interior with a flashlight for signs of water damage, showing how to tell if a car was flooded

How to Tell If a Car Was Flooded: Signs Every Buyer Should Check

Buying Guides

Knowing how to tell if a car was flooded before you buy is one of...

Person pulling back trunk carpet revealing water damage showing how to spot a flood damaged car

How to Spot a Flood Damaged Car Before You Buy It

Buying Guides

Knowing how to spot a flood damaged car before you buy is one of the...

Good idea. Here is the full list — prompt first, then everything you need for the upload: --- **Post 28 — seller-wont-give-vin** **Prompt:** `Man holding smartphone photographing VIN plate through car windshield on a residential street, natural daylight, photorealistic` - **File name:** `seller-wont-give-vin.jpg` - **Title:** Seller Won't Give VIN - **Alt text:** Man photographing VIN plate through windshield when seller won't give VIN --- **Post 31 — how-to-pay-for-a-car-from-a-private-seller** **Prompt:** `Two people completing a handshake beside a used car in a suburban driveway, one holding car keys, warm afternoon light, photorealistic` - **File name:** `how-to-pay-for-a-car-from-a-private-seller.jpg` - **Title:** How to Pay for a Car From a Private Seller - **Alt text:** Two people exchanging car keys and handshake showing how to pay for a car from a private seller --- **Post 32 — what-is-a-branded-title** **Prompt:** `Close-up of a vehicle title document on a wooden desk with a pen beside it, shallow depth of field, photorealistic` - **File name:** `what-is-a-branded-title.jpg` - **Title:** What Is a Branded Title - **Alt text:** Vehicle title document on a desk explaining what is a branded title --- **Post 33 — should-i-buy-a-car-with-accident-history** **Prompt:** `Used car with a visible dent on the rear quarter panel parked on a dealer lot, natural outdoor lighting, photorealistic` - **File name:** `should-i-buy-a-car-with-accident-history.jpg` - **Title:** Should I Buy a Car With Accident History - **Alt text:** Used car with visible rear damage raising the question of whether to buy a car with accident history --- **Post 34 — how-to-tell-if-a-car-was-flooded** **Prompt:** `Person crouching beside a car door shining a flashlight along the lower door sill examining for water damage, garage setting, photorealistic` - **File name:** `how-to-tell-if-a-car-was-flooded.jpg` - **Title:** How to Tell If a Car Was Flooded - **Alt text:** Person inspecting lower door sill with flashlight to tell if a car was flooded --- **Post 35 — can-a-vin-check-show-mileage** **Prompt:** `Close-up of a car odometer showing high mileage on the dashboard, steering wheel slightly blurred in background, photorealistic` - **File name:** `can-a-vin-check-show-mileage.jpg` - **Title:** Can a VIN Check Show Mileage - **Alt text:** Car odometer close-up showing whether a VIN check can show mileage history --- **Post 36 — can-a-vin-check-show-accidents** **Prompt:** `Person sitting in a parked car reviewing a vehicle history report on a tablet, natural window light, photorealistic` - **File name:** `can-a-vin-check-show-accidents.jpg` - **Title:** Can a VIN Check Show Accidents - **Alt text:** Person reviewing vehicle report on tablet to find out if a VIN check can show accidents --- **Post 37 — what-does-a-vin-check-show** **Prompt:** `Close-up of a VIN number plate on a car dashboard photographed through the windshield from outside, photorealistic` - **File name:** `what-does-a-vin-check-show.jpg` - **Title:** What Does a VIN Check Show - **Alt text:** VIN plate on car dashboard illustrating what a VIN check shows buyers --- **Post 38 — what-does-a-vehicle-history-report-show** **Prompt:** `Person at a home office desk reviewing a multi-page vehicle history report beside a laptop, natural light, photorealistic` - **File name:** `what-does-a-vehicle-history-report-show.jpg` - **Title:** What Does a Vehicle History Report Show - **Alt text:** Person reviewing paperwork at desk showing what a vehicle history report shows --- **Post 39 — buying-a-car-with-a-salvage-title** **Prompt:** `Repaired used car on a dealer lot with slightly mismatched paint on the hood visible under bright sunlight, photorealistic` - **File name:** `buying-a-car-with-a-salvage-title.jpg` - **Title:** Buying a Car With a Salvage Title - **Alt text:** Used car with repaired body damage showing risks of buying a car with a salvage title --- **Post 40 — clean-title-vs-salvage-title** **Prompt:** `Two vehicle title documents placed side by side on a desk, one appearing worn and stamped, clean neutral background, photorealistic` - **File name:** `clean-title-vs-salvage-title.jpg` - **Title:** Clean Title vs Salvage Title - **Alt text:** Two car title documents side by side comparing a clean title vs salvage title --- **Post 42 — is-a-salvage-title-bad** **Prompt:** `Heavily damaged wrecked car being loaded onto a flatbed tow truck on a highway, natural daylight, photorealistic` - **File name:** `is-a-salvage-title-bad.jpg` - **Title:** Is a Salvage Title Bad - **Alt text:** Wrecked car on flatbed truck showing why a salvage title is bad for used car buyers --- **Post 45 — can-you-get-full-coverage-on-a-rebuilt-title** **Prompt:** `Person standing in a parking lot talking on the phone, used car visible in background, natural daylight, photorealistic` - **File name:** `can-you-get-full-coverage-on-a-rebuilt-title.jpg` - **Title:** Can You Get Full Coverage on a Rebuilt Title - **Alt text:** Person on phone in parking lot asking if you can get full coverage on a rebuilt title --- **Post 46 — is-a-rebuilt-title-bad** **Prompt:** `Mechanic crouching under a raised car on a lift in a well-lit auto shop examining the undercarriage, photorealistic` - **File name:** `is-a-rebuilt-title-bad.jpg` - **Title:** Is a Rebuilt Title Bad - **Alt text:** Mechanic inspecting undercarriage on lift showing why a rebuilt title can be bad --- **Post 47 — does-a-rebuilt-title-affect-insurance** **Prompt:** `Person reviewing an insurance document at a kitchen table with car keys resting beside the paperwork, natural light, photorealistic` - **File name:** `does-a-rebuilt-title-affect-insurance.jpg` - **Title:** Does a Rebuilt Title Affect Insurance - **Alt text:** Person reviewing insurance paperwork at table showing how a rebuilt title affects insurance --- **Post 48 — can-you-insure-a-salvage-title-car** **Prompt:** `Insurance agent and customer sitting across a desk reviewing paperwork together in a professional office, photorealistic` - **File name:** `can-you-insure-a-salvage-title-car.jpg` - **Title:** Can You Insure a Salvage Title Car - **Alt text:** Insurance agent reviewing policy with customer showing how to insure a salvage title car --- **Post 49 — what-is-a-bonded-title** **Prompt:** `Stack of official government documents with a seal visible on the top page, pen resting on top, wooden desk, photorealistic` - **File name:** `what-is-a-bonded-title.jpg` - **Title:** What Is a Bonded Title - **Alt text:** Official documents on a desk explaining what a bonded title is for used car buyers --- **Post 50 — car-title-signed-but-never-transferred** **Prompt:** `Close-up of a signed car title document with a visible signature in the seller section, shallow depth of field, photorealistic` - **File name:** `car-title-signed-but-never-transferred.jpg` - **Title:** Car Title Signed But Never Transferred - **Alt text:** Signed car title document showing what happens when a car title is signed but never transferred --- **Post 51 — buying-a-car-with-no-title** **Prompt:** `Person holding car keys looking uncertain beside a used car in a residential driveway, overcast daylight, photorealistic` - **File name:** `buying-a-car-with-no-title.jpg` - **Title:** Buying a Car With No Title - **Alt text:** Person looking uncertain beside a used car showing the risks of buying a car with no title --- **Post 54 — how-to-tell-if-odometer-has-been-rolled-back** **Prompt:** `Close-up of a car dashboard odometer with the driver's hand on the steering wheel slightly blurred in background, photorealistic` - **File name:** `how-to-tell-if-odometer-has-been-rolled-back.jpg` - **Title:** How to Tell if an Odometer Has Been Rolled Back - **Alt text:** Car odometer close-up showing how to tell if an odometer has been rolled back --- **Post 55 — what-is-a-salvage-title** **Prompt:** `Totaled car at a salvage yard surrounded by other damaged vehicles, overcast daylight, wide angle, photorealistic` - **File name:** `what-is-a-salvage-title.jpg` - **Title:** What Is a Salvage Title - **Alt text:** Totaled car at salvage yard showing what a salvage title means for used car buyers --- **Post 56 — what-is-a-rebuilt-title** **Prompt:** `Mechanic finishing a repair under a car hood in a clean well-lit auto shop, tools visible on workbench, photorealistic` - **File name:** `what-is-a-rebuilt-title.jpg` - **Title:** What Is a Rebuilt Title - **Alt text:** Mechanic repairing car engine showing what a rebuilt title means before you buy --- **Post 57 — how-to-spot-a-flood-damaged-car** **Prompt:** `Person pulling back trunk carpet to reveal moisture stains and debris with a flashlight in hand, photorealistic` - **File name:** `how-to-spot-a-flood-damaged-car.jpg` - **Title:** How to Spot a Flood Damaged Car - **Alt text:** Person pulling back trunk carpet revealing water damage showing how to spot a flood damaged car --- **Post 58 — how-to-do-a-vin-check** **Prompt:** `Person using a smartphone to photograph the VIN plate on a car dashboard through the windshield, suburban street background, photorealistic` - **File name:** `how-to-do-a-vin-check.jpg` - **Title:** How to Do a VIN Check - **Alt text:** Person photographing VIN plate with smartphone showing how to do a VIN check on a used car --- **Post 59 — what-is-a-lemon-law-title** **Prompt:** `Frustrated person standing beside a broken-down car on the side of a road with hands on hips, natural daylight, photorealistic` - **File name:** `what-is-a-lemon-law-title.jpg` - **Title:** What Is a Lemon Law Title - **Alt text:** Frustrated driver beside broken-down car showing what a lemon law title means for buyers --- **Post 60 — how-many-miles-is-too-many-on-a-used-car** **Prompt:** `Wide shot of a slightly worn used car parked on a suburban street, warm afternoon sunlight, photorealistic` - **File name:** `how-many-miles-is-too-many-on-a-used-car.jpg` - **Title:** How Many Miles Is Too Many on a Used Car - **Alt text:** Worn used car on suburban street showing how many miles is too many on a used car --- **Post 61 — red-flags-when-buying-used-car-private-seller** **Prompt:** `Person inspecting body panel gaps on a used car in a residential driveway, crouching down to look closely, photorealistic` - **File name:** `red-flags-when-buying-used-car-private-seller.jpg` - **Title:** Red Flags When Buying a Used Car From a Private Seller - **Alt text:** Person inspecting used car body panels showing red flags when buying a used car from a private seller --- **Post 62 — used-car-pre-purchase-inspection** **Prompt:** `Mechanic examining the underside of a raised vehicle in a professional auto shop with diagnostic tools visible, photorealistic` - **File name:** `used-car-pre-purchase-inspection.jpg` - **Title:** Used Car Pre-Purchase Inspection - **Alt text:** Mechanic inspecting raised car on lift showing what a used car pre-purchase inspection covers --- **Post 64 — how-to-check-if-car-has-been-in-accident** **Prompt:** `Person running their hand along a car door panel examining paint in outdoor daylight looking for inconsistencies, photorealistic` - **File name:** `how-to-check-if-car-has-been-in-accident.jpg` - **Title:** How to Check if a Car Has Been in an Accident - **Alt text:** Person examining car paint panel showing how to check if a car has been in an accident --- **Post 65 — used-car-buying-checklist** **Prompt:** `Person standing beside a used car in a dealer lot holding a printed checklist and pen, sunny day, photorealistic` - **File name:** `used-car-buying-checklist.jpg` - **Title:** Used Car Buying Checklist - **Alt text:** Person with checklist beside used car on dealer lot using a used car buying checklist before purchase

How to Pay for a Car From a Private Seller: What’s Actually Safe

Private Seller

How to pay for a car from a private seller is one of those things...

Person photographing VIN plate with smartphone showing how to do a VIN check on a used car

How to Do a VIN Check on a Used Car (And What to Look For)

VIN & Vehicle History

Learning how to do a VIN check is one of the fastest ways to protect...

How to Check if a Car Has Been in an Accident

VIN & Vehicle History

Knowing how to check if a car has been in an accident before you pay...

How Many Miles Is Too Many on a Used Car?

Buying Guides

The question of how many miles is too many on a used car does not...

Does a Rebuilt Title Affect Insurance? What Buyers Need to Know

Insurance

Does a rebuilt title affect insurance? Yes, a rebuilt title affects insurance in ways that...

Two car title documents side by side comparing a clean title vs salvage title

Clean Title vs Salvage Title: What’s the Difference Before You Buy?

Title & Paperwork

The difference between a clean title vs salvage title affects insurance, financing, and resale value...

Signed car title document showing what happens when a car title is signed but never transferred

Car Title Signed But Never Transferred: What It Means and What to Do

Title & Paperwork

A car title signed but never transferred creates real legal problems if you are on...