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Buying guides5 min read
Used car test drive: what to check in 20 minutes
A 20-minute test drive plan for a used car: cold start, gearbox, brakes at speed, steering, suspension and a final check of the electronics.
Certcar car blog.
How to check the VIN, damage, mileage, service history and imported cars, explained step by step.
All articles.
Vehicle history and VIN5 min read
Fake or altered VIN: how to spot it before buying
Where the VIN must match, what traces a re-stamped or cloned VIN leaves behind, and what to do if the VIN doesn't match the car's documents.
Marius-Gabriel Andrei
Automotive laws and documents7 min read
Documents to check before paying for a used car
Check the owner, the VIN, the vehicle ID card, the registration certificate, tax status and any lease before you pay for a used car. Full checklist.
Marius-Gabriel Andrei
Buying guides7 min read
Seller won't share the VIN? What it may hide
Why you need the VIN before a viewing, what a seller who refuses to share it may be hiding, and how to check the VIN really belongs to that car.
Marius-Gabriel Andrei
Buying guides6 min read
How to recognise a car repaired after an accident
How to spot a car repaired after an accident: its damage history, earlier photos, panel gaps, paint thickness and a careful look at the bodywork.
Marius-Gabriel Andrei
Buying guides7 min read
How to spot a flood-damaged car before buying
Find out what the signs of a flood-damaged car are, where to check for water traces, and what problems can arise after the vehicle has been dried and cleaned.
Marius-Gabriel Andrei
Vehicle history and VIN6 min read
Free VIN check: what a decoder shows and doesn't
What a free VIN decoder tells you about a used car, what it can't show, and when you need a full vehicle history report before you buy it.
Marius-Gabriel Andrei
Vehicle history and VIN2 min read
Technical inspection history: what it shows about a used car
What an inspection report says about a used car, what it doesn't show about its history, and why you put it next to a VIN check before you pay.
Marius-Gabriel Andrei
Vehicle history and VIN7 min read
Economic total loss: is the car worth buying?
What economic total loss means, why such cars get repaired and resold, and what to check before you decide whether the car is worth buying.
Marius-Gabriel Andrei
Buying guides7 min read
Ex-fleet, taxi or rental car: what risks to check
How previous use affects a car's condition, and what to check if it was a lease car, part of a fleet, used as a taxi or as a rental car.
Marius-Gabriel Andrei
Vehicle history and VIN6 min read
Why might a car's service history be missing?
A missing service history doesn't always mean a neglected car. Learn why some work never shows up and how to check maintenance before buying.
Marius-Gabriel Andrei
Vehicle history and VIN7 min read
Estimated damage value: how to read it correctly
The value of damage alone does not indicate the severity of the accident. Find out how costs are influenced and what you need to check before buying the car.
Marius-Gabriel Andrei
Buying guides7 min read
Checking a mobile.de car before you travel
Found a car on mobile.de? What to ask the seller, how to check its history by VIN and which signs point to a risky advert before you travel.
Marius-Gabriel AndreiVehicle history and VIN8 min read
How to read a vehicle history report correctly
How to read a vehicle history report: mileage, damage records, photos, service history and equipment, and what each warning sign means.
Marius-Gabriel Andrei
Vehicle history and VIN6 min read
How to tell if a car's odometer was rolled back
How to spot a rolled-back odometer: mileage records by VIN, service documents, electronic diagnostics and the real wear inside the car.
Marius-Gabriel Andrei
Vehicle history and VIN7 min read
No damage in the report: was the car never hit?
A report with no damage doesn't prove the car was never hit. Learn why some accidents never reach the records and what to check before buying.
Marius-Gabriel Andrei
Buying guides7 min read
How to check a used car before buying: full guide
Find out what you need to check before buying a used car: the VIN, damage and mileage history, documents, bodywork, test drive and technical condition.
Marius-Gabriel AndreiGuides by category.
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