There are plenty of advantages to buying a used, rather than new, vehicle — especially the instant depreciation cost you incur when you drive that shiny new car off the dealer’s lot.
But one disadvantage is that you don’t really know for sure who’s owned that vehicle before you, or whether it might have been in a flood, was totaled out in a collision, or suffered other damage.
One easy and free way to check the vehicle history is provided by the State of Texas. Just go to the Title Check section of the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles and enter the Vehicle Identification Number. You’ll be told if that VIN belongs to the vehicle in question, and whether there are any issues that should raise a red flag for you. It’s free — use it.
