Certcar
Check VIN

Car damage check by VIN.

See the damage recorded for the car in Romania and other countries: when and where it happened, which parts were affected, the estimated repair cost and whether the car was declared a total loss.

Enter VIN number (17 characters)

See which car it is for free. You only pay if you want the full report.

Damage history
BMW 320d xDrive, 2019
Illustrative example
  1. Romania07.2024
    Bonnet, front bumper7,000 – 9,000 RON
  2. 2023 · The car is brought to Romania
  3. France01.2022Total loss
    Front, both sides, rear bumper95.000 RON
  4. Germany04.2021
    Rear bumper5.000 RON
  5. Germany11.2020
    Front left, front bumper15.000 RON
Estimated cost:up to €1,5001.500–5.000 €over €5,000

How to read a damage record in the report.

Each damage record appears as a separate card. Pick a number to see what each part of the card means.

How damage appears in the reportIllustrative example
France01.2022
Damage recorded
Affected parts
BonnetFront bumperFront left upperFront right upperLeft sideRight sideRear bumper
Damage categories
Active safety systemsEngine blockChassis railsFront end
Estimated cost
95.000 RON
From the report summary
The vehicle was declared a total loss
Total loss
1Country and month

Where and when the damage was recorded. For a car brought from another country, damage from before the import appears with the country where it happened.

Try the Damage section of the report.

This is the real section from the sample report: a 2019 BMW 320d with damage in Germany and France, later brought to Romania. Pick a damage record from the list to see the affected areas on the car.

Sample reportSee the full report
Damage history
See affected parts and estimated cost, based on available data.
Damages found
Note
Minor damages usually don't affect vehicle safety and don't cause structural problems.
Recorded damage
Romania
• 07.2024
Right side
Left side
Rear
Front
Affected parts
Hood
Front bumper
Estimated repair cost
1.336 EUR – 1.718 EUR
Recorded damage
France
• 01.2022
Right side
Left side
Rear
Front
Affected parts
Hood
Front bumper
Front left top
Front right top
Left side
Right side
Rear bumper
Damage categories
Active safety systems
Engine block
Side members
Front panel
Estimated cost
18.100 EUR

Signs of a repair.

What to check on the car, alongside the report

The report shows you where the car was hit. On the car you see how it was repaired. Start with the areas from the report, then check the rest of the body.

  • Different paint shades

    Look along the panels named in the report in daylight. A repainted panel has a different shade or texture from its neighbours.

  • Uneven panel gaps

    The gap between the bonnet and wings, between the doors or around the boot should be the same on both sides. A wider gap on one side points to a part that was removed or replaced.

  • The year on windows and headlights

    Windows and headlights are stamped with their year of manufacture. A part newer than the car has been replaced.

  • Disturbed bolts

    Spanner marks and chipped paint on the bolts of the wings, bonnet and hinges show the parts have been removed.

What to check depending on the damage cost.

The colour of the damage in the report tells you how far to take your check and what to ask the seller for.

Yellow · up to €1,500

Minor repair

Usually a bumper, a wing or a headlight.

  • Look for the four signs above on the panels named in the report.
  • Ask the seller where and when the repair was done.
  • Check that the headlights and parking sensors in the damaged area work.
  • Ask for the invoice, if there is one. A well-done minor repair doesn't lower the price much.
Orange · €1,500–5,000

Medium repair

Several parts painted or replaced.

  • Ask for the repair invoice or estimate.
  • Measure the paint thickness on the panels in the report. A simple gauge shows what has been repainted.
  • Look at the gaps between panels and at how the doors and boot seal.
  • Take the repair into account when you negotiate.
Red · over €5,000 or total loss

Major repair

The impact may have reached the structure or the safety systems.

  • Put the car on a lift: chassis rails, boot floor, weld points.
  • The airbag warning light must come on at start-up and then go out.
  • Have an independent garage inspect it before you pay.
  • Take the damage into account when you negotiate.
Damage questions.
What buyers want to know before paying for a car.
Enter the VIN on this page. You see which car it is for free, and the full report lists the recorded damage, each with the country, date, affected parts and estimated cost.
Yes. Damage found in other countries appears with the country, date, affected parts and estimated cost, so you also see what happened to the car before it was imported.
It means there is no recorded damage. A repair paid for privately, without insurance, never reaches the records, so look for the repair signs above anyway.
The car was written off: the repair was considered too expensive compared with its value. Some of these cars are repaired and put back on sale, so they deserve a careful check and a lower price.
Yes. All you need is the VIN, which you can ask the seller for. You check the car before you travel to collect it or pay for transport.
Didn't find the answer?
See all frequently asked questions

Also check.

Find out what damage has been recorded for the car.

All you need is the VIN, the 17 characters on the registration document.

Enter VIN number (17 characters)