Question 1

The seller says the car was imported new. Is a check still worth it?

Accepted Answer

Yes. A new car exported from the US has a short American record, and the report will show that quickly and cheaply. A car described as imported new that turns out to have three years of US registrations and an auction sale is the case the check exists for.

Question 2

Can I find the VIN without the seller?

Accepted Answer

It is on the windscreen plate at the base of the glass on the driver's side, readable from outside. If a seller refuses to let you read it, walk away.

Question 3

The car has been in Europe for years. Does the US record still matter?

Accepted Answer

The structural and electrical consequences of a flood or a heavy collision do not expire. The US record is the only account of what was damaged, and it stays relevant for the life of the car.

Question 4

Does this also work for a car imported from Canada?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Canadian provincial records and any earlier US history are in the same report. Canada has its own version of this problem: many Canadian used cars were themselves imported from the US.