Free Pennsylvania VIN Check & Vehicle History Report

Buying a Used Car in the State of Pennsylvania? Read this before you buy!

Buying a car in Pennsylvania has its own unique set of challenges that must be overcome in order to get a good vehicle for a reasonable price. Pennsylvania's used car market is shaped by the state's specific economic, regulatory and weather conditions. From harsh weather conditions to high insurance rates, there are several hurdles that can complicate the car-buying process.

Pennsylvania is no stranger to harsh weather events, particularly during the winter months. According to the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT), the state averages over 40 inches of snowfall annually, with some regions receiving over 100 inches. This severe weather can cause significant damage to vehicles including, premature corrosion, rust, mechanical issues as well as structural problems.

Another issue plaguing Pennsylvania's used car market is a higher rate of property crimes, including vehicle theft. According to the Pennsylvania State Police, the state's vehicle theft rate is 15% higher than the national average. This means that there is a greater risk of buying a car that has been stolen or involved in criminal activities, which can lead to legal complications and financial losses.

Pennsylvania is a mix of urban and rural areas with many regions far from major cities. The Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development notes that over 60% of the state's population lives in rural or semi-rural areas. Understandably, the state has a diverse vehicle inventory reflecting its unique economic landscape. While the state's overall cost of living is lower than the national average, urban areas like Philadelphia and Pittsburgh have a higher cost of living, which can impact the overall affordability of car ownership. This increased cost may affect inventory available in larger cities as car owners are more likely to experience economic hardships. What this could mean is that some vehicles could have deferred maintenance and condition issues, making them less reliable and overall, less desirable to the new owner.

Further exacerbating the financial pressure put on car owners in the state of Pennsylvania are the state's high car insurance rates. Insurance rates in Pennsylvania are among the highest in the country. According to the Pennsylvania Insurance Department, the average annual cost of auto insurance in the state is $1,350, which is about 25% higher than the national average. This is due to factors such as high traffic density in urban areas, the cost of repairs and the state's no-fault insurance system.

The Most Important things to be aware of when shopping for a car in Pennsylvania

While buying a good preowned car in the state of Pennsylvania may be challenging, there are a couple of things you can do to take away some of the uncertainty out of this process. These 3 steps will allow you to be able to easily weed out good, competitively priced vehicles from ones with storied histories and legal issues.

• The first step is to determine the fair market value for the make and model vehicle you wish to purchase. Once you have gotten a handful of candidates, you can move on to the second step of the process.
• In the second step, you will need to allocate some time to investigate the vehicle's unique histories. Understanding the vehicle's unique history can help you assess its value, safety and long-term reliability. All that you will need to initiate this process is the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN). A VIN is a unique serial number permanently imprinted on each road legal vehicle. This number cannot be changed and is used to track the vehicle and gain access to its history.

  A full vehicle history report in Pennsylvania may include:

  • Accident History: Accident records may include various accident event related details such as accident severity, airbag deployment, location of damage on the vehicle and related total loss claim details. A vehicle with a history of past accidents, especially one with a history of total loss, is considered less desirable and may sell for as much as 40% less than its regular resale value.
  • Title Brands: A full vehicle history report may identify total loss events resulting in title brands such as salvage, rebuilt, junk, lemon, theft recovery, flood and TMU (Total Mileage Unknown). A good percentage of these vehicles will eventually be repaired and pop up for sale. The issue with all reconstructed vehicles has to do with the fact that the quality of the vehicle will greatly rely on the quality of the repair or the reconstruction process. Needless to say, there is a lot of uncertainty surrounding their safety and long term reliability.
  • Theft Check: A VIN check report may also identify potential indicators that the vehicle has ever been reported stolen.
  • Title Liens: A title lien is recorded when there is an outstanding debt owed on the car. Most common title liens are generated through a process of vehicle loan/financing. Buying a vehicle with an undischarged lien can result in financial loss and hardships.
  • Ownership History: May identify the number of previous owners, duration of ownership, sale dates, sale amounts and lienholder information.
  • Recalls: Recall records can provide details related to outstanding manufacturer safety recalls.
  • Sale History: Sale data may include a slew of information such as transaction dates, sale amounts and possible loan and lienholder details.
  • Odometer Records: Vehicle mileage is recorded and reported by multiple service shops and government agencies. A record of each event, along with the mileage recorded during that event, may be found in a full vehicle history report in Pennsylvania. By analyzing the vehicle's mileage history, it is possible to spot discrepancies, which are most commonly a sign of odometer rollback fraud.
  • Vehicle Specs & Options: Vehicle specs and options may contain everything from the vehicle engine size to interior color. Additionally, it may identify factory installed options as they are recorded on the vehicle's-build sheet.
• While getting a vehicle history report in Pennsylvania is a valuable research tool, it may not give you a clear idea of the vehicle's current condition. This is where a professional pre-purchase vehicle inspection comes into play. By having the vehicle inspected by a trusted professional auto technician, you will be able to better understand the vehicle's current condition and even help budget for upcoming repairs and service. A professional in person inspection may uncover issues never reported to any agency, repair facility or insurance company. It can identify hidden issues such as excessive corrosion, structural damage from previous collisions, electrical faults, unreported auto body repair(s) and more...

By following the above 3, you should have all the information you will need to make an informed car buying decision.