Free Ways to Check Your Vehicle’s History

BY SOLO INSURANCE®   Updated Dec. 2025

Buying a used car? Did you know that every vehicle has a story to tell? Vehicle History Reports help people see a vehicle’s past. Is it accident-free or was it involved in an accident, or stolen? If you ask it, it won’t tell you (and sometimes the seller won’t either). Find a vehicle’s known history, it’s attached to the Vehicle Identification Number [VIN]. Here are some ways to find it. 

Vehicle History Reports

Where should you start? Be aware, there are a number of vehicle history report options. Sometimes sellers provide it free of charge, but you can search too. Make sure you have the VIN accurately, then do a vehicle history search by VIN (many are free). One such option is the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB). According to their website: “NICB partners with insurance companies, consumers and law enforcement to combat insurance fraud and theft through the combination of intelligence and analytics, investigations, and learning development.” (NICB.org). NICB has access to a database of vehicles reported as stolen within the past five years and remain unrecovered  or declared as salvage. They make this information available, free of charge, as a public service to consumers. The information in their “VINCheck” is concerning vehicles insured in the United States.  

Want free and easy ways to check vehicle history? See the links below. Note, not all vehicle history shows up all the time (someone must report it). These links, however, get you started.

• National Insurance Crime Bureau:     Vin Check
• National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (part of the U.S. Department of Transportation):    Safer Car Vin

Where’s the VIN on your car?

You may already know, but just in case you don’t, here’s where to find a vehicle’s VIN. Stand outside the car by the driver’s door near the front tire. Now, look on the lower right of the windshield, where it meets the dashboard, for a silver metal strip. It contains the 17-character VIN. Model years 1981 and earlier have less characters. Locate VINs, too, on the car’s driver door. If it’s your car, you’ll find the VIN on the registration, title, and your car insurance card.

Speaking of car insurance, if you need it or just want to double-check your rates, contact the trusted agents at Solo Insurance®. Independent and helping drivers over 30 years.

Get your car insurance quote .

Don’t own a car but need an SR22?  Quote here.

🚗  -----  🚗  -----  🚗  -----  🚗  -----  🚗  -----  🚗  -----  🚗
Solo Insurance® where great rates and personalized service meet.   – Veteran/Family owned since 1994 –
We shop the rates for you upfront and at renewals to ensure you get our best rate every time.
Solo Insurance® ~ 800-207-7656 ~ Soloinsurance.net ~ Get a car insurance Quote here ~ Like us on Facebook
Over 30 years in business helping people navigate car insurance with top insurance carriers,
because at Solo, you’re a person, not a policy.