Whether you are buying or selling a pre-owned car a vehicle title search in Iowa may help provide some badly needed transparency to the used car sale process. It allows sellers to get a better idea of the value, safety and overall desirability of the car they are interested, in while helping sellers build trust and allow for a smoother sale process.
A vehicle title search may uncover a slew of valuable information about the car’s past, such as:
- Ownership History: May help identify the number of previous owners, sale dates, states of registry, previous sale information, length of ownership and more.
- Lien Check: May aid in identifying any existing liens on the vehicle, which are claims by creditors that must be settled before the vehicle can be legally transferred to a new owner.
- Accident History: The search can provide details about any past accidents, storm weather events, floods, fires and any other reported vehicle related loss claims. This information may be vital for assessing its safety and value.
- Odometer History: It helps identify odometer readings throughout various events in the car’s history and provides indicators of mileage tampering.
- Theft Records: A title search may be able to indicate if the vehicle has ever been reported stolen, protecting the buyer from potential legal issues.
- Title Brands: It may help identify possible title brands, such as salvaged, rebuilt, junk, lemon, flood, and TMU (Total Mileage Unknown) which can impact the vehicle's resale value and insurability.