It’s a tough choice buying a used car. It may look and run great at first, but there may be problems lurking. A vehicle history report can save you from that, as it provides you with a detailed background on a vehicle, including accidents, title, mileage history, previous owners, service records, etc.
The number of services providing vehicle history reports has increased in 2025, and though all of them are good, some are better than others. In this guide, we’ll take you through the 10 best vehicle history report services, where you will see what all of them have to offer, how much you’ll pay, and which one suits you best.
What Makes a Good Vehicle History Report?
Not all reports are equal. To choose the best service, look for the following:
- Accurate Information: It must be retrieved from reliable sources like government records, insurance databases, or auctions.
- Comprehensive coverage: The best vehicle history report must include accident history, title issues, odometer readings, recall records, and theft status.
- Classic car support: If you’re checking a vintage car, make sure the service supports classic car VINs (5–14 digits).
- Ease of use: The report should have a clear layout with visuals and labels that help you understand the details quickly.
- Fair pricing: If you’re on a budget, you may want to consider a service offering the best price or providing a discount offer at that time. Most sites that claim to offer free reports only use the “free” as bait to drive traffic.
Now, let’s review the top 10 best vehicle history providers that made the list.
Detailed Vehicle History: Best Carfax Alternative
Detailed Vehicle History stands out for its wide coverage and affordable rates. It supports both 17-digit VINs and classic vehicles with 5-14 digits. This makes it one of the few tools that can check antique and vintage cars accurately.
You’ll find auction history with photos, sales history, title records, and full specifications. It also checks for theft, recalls, and even odometer rollbacks. If you want a detailed look at a car’s past, and with just $19.99/report, this is a solid choice.
- Pros
- Works for all vehicle types, including classic cars.
- License plate lookup and window sticker lookup
- About 56% cheaper than a Carfax report
- Free VIN decoding
- Free reports
- Cons
- “Give away” report packages may appear strange to users
Carfax: Industry Leader
Carfax is a well-known name in the industry. It offers deep data from thousands of sources like dealerships, service centers, and government agencies. A Carfax report includes accident history, service records, previous owners, and more.
It’s often used by dealers and is highly trusted by buyers. While it’s one of the more expensive options, at $44.99/report, many feel it’s worth the price for the peace of mind.
- Pros
- Trusted brand, detailed service records
- Cons
- Expensive, no auction images
- No support for classic VINs
- Records may not be complete
Instant VIN Reports: Best for Comprehensive Records
If you want a quick and affordable vehicle history report, Instant VIN Reports is a great pick. At $25, their report provides records on title status, mileage, recalls, accidents, ownership, and more. You can also check detailed vehicle specifications with support for both classic and modern cars.
- Pros:
- Instant report generation
- Fair pricing
- Supports classic VINs
- Free reports
- Cons:
- May require account creation
AutoCheck: Best for Vehicle Evaluation
AutoCheck is owned by Experian, and it’s designed for people comparing several cars. Its unique “AutoCheck Score” makes it easy to see how one car stacks up against another based on its history.
The reports, priced at $29.99/report, cover accidents, title issues, auction history, and more. Dealers use AutoCheck reports often because it’s cheaper than Carfax and still very reliable.
- Pros: Scoring system for comparison, affordable than Carfax
- Cons: Less detail than Carfax in some areas
CarVertical: Best for Blockchain-backed Data
CarVertical is a newer option that uses blockchain to ensure the data hasn’t been changed. It’s especially useful in Europe and covers both EU and US vehicles.
A CarVertical report costs $29.99, and it includes damage history, odometer rollbacks, theft checks, and ownership details. The timeline layout is simple and easy to read.
- Pros: Visual timeline, blockchain-secured data
- Cons: Not all US vehicles are supported
Classic Decoder: Best for Classic Car VIN Decoding
Classic Decoder is ideal for classic car buyers, sellers, and restorers. It decodes VINs (5–14 digits) or VIN numbers of vehicles made before 1981, offering build sheet information, specifications, and history.
Where modern VIN check tools fail, Classic Decoder thrives to fill the demand gap for classic vehicle data. If you want to know exactly how a classic was built from the factory, this tool, starting at $29.99/report, is a must.
Pros:
- Great for pre-1981 vehicles
- Handles VINs shorter than 17 digits
- Provides classic build sheet information
Cons:
- Primarily catered to classics
- Data retrieval is expensive, so the report also
EpicVIN: Best for Easy-to-Read Reports
EpicVIN is approved by the NMVTIS (National Motor Vehicle Title Information System), which means it gets its data from trusted sources. It offers clear reports with accident details, title history, and vehicle photos when available.
It’s user-friendly and works well for US car buyers looking for reliable data without the high price tag – $24.99.
- Pros: NMVTIS-certified, photos included
- Cons: Some details may be missing in older vehicles
Smart Car Check: Best for UK VIN Checks
Smart Car Check offers affordable and detailed vehicle reports for UK buyers. With checks starting at just £6.99 ($9.44), users can access MOT history, mileage issues, finance status, previous keepers, and more.
You can choose between a basic or premium report, depending on how much detail you need. It’s a great option for anyone buying a used car in the UK.
Pros:
- Low-cost reports
- Covers UK-specific data
- Flexible report options
Cons:
- UK reports only
VINCheckPro: Best for Free Basic Checks
VINCheckPro offers a free version of its report that covers basic information like make, model, and some title information. You can then upgrade to a full report that includes liens, salvage records, insurance loss, and more.
It’s simple to use and includes a license plate lookup option, too.
- Pros:
- Free option available, easy layout
- Cons: Redirects to a third-party site for the complete report (costs extra)
ClearVIN: Best for Reports from Trusted Sources
ClearVIN is another NMVTIS-approved provider. It pulls data from government and commercial databases, so the information is trustworthy.
Its reports, priced at $15.99/report, include ownership history, title problems, junk/salvage status, and insurance claims. While it doesn’t offer flashy graphics, the information is accurate and well-organized.
- Pros: Accurate government data, solid for US buyers
- Cons: Basic design, no international support
VINAudit: Best for Pay-Per-Report Individuals
VINAudit offers low-cost reports and allows businesses to buy report bundles. It’s great for people buying several cars or dealers checking multiple vehicles.
Reports, at $9.99/report, include title checks, junk history, recalls, odometer readings, and more. You can even integrate VINAudit into a website or dealer system.
- Pros: Affordable, easy to use, dealership-ready
- Cons: Fewer features than Carfax or Detailed Vehicle History
FaxVIN: Best for All-In-One Place Auto Data
FaxVIN gives you access to full reports that include accident records, ownership history, title status, and mileage. It’s budget-friendly and supports cars from several regions, not just the US.
With just $12.95/report, you also get detailed vehicle specs with each search, making it good for buyers who want both a VIN decode and a history report.
- Pros: Affordable, good VIN decoding, international coverage
- Cons: Not NMVTIS-certified
Conclusion
Buying a used car is a big deal, and mistakes can be costly. A good vehicle history report helps you see what you can’t find just by looking at the car.
If you need an easy-to-read, affordable VIN check report with auction photos and classic VIN support, the list above has something for you. Take your time, choose wisely, and always double-check before you buy.
The best vehicle history report is the one that gives you the confidence to close a deal or walk away. Don’t guess, always check the facts first.
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Vehicle Databases has one of the largest databases for extensive and accurate vehicle data APIs in the world. It empowers businesses, developers, and individuals with its 25+ car APIs, which offer easy integration, scalable growth, and complete automotive data solutions.
Two prominent APIs are the VIN decoder API and vehicle history API, which are built to decode both modern and classic VINs for accurate vehicle specifications and history within seconds. The VIN decoder API provides over 200+ data points to reveal the year, make, model, trim, engine, transmission, and more.
With the vehicle history API, businesses can easily access and retrieve detailed records of the titles, ownership, accidents, liens and loans, services, and more. To get started, book a demo to instantly discuss your business needs with our team.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the most reliable vehicle history report?
Based on the data provided and vehicle support, Detailed Vehicle History is the go-to for the detailed vehicle history report, which includes title information, service records, mileage records, auction history, images, and more.
What is the best site for vehicle history report?
There are several online sites where you can pull up the history of a vehicle. Some of the best sites include Detailed Vehicle History, Carfax, Premium VIN, AutoCheck, and CarVertical. If you’re looking for classic vehicle history, no other site does that better than Classic Decoder, providing support for classic car VINs ranging from 5 – 14 digits.
What is the best used car site for 2025?
If you value user-friendly platforms with verified listings, consider websites like Autotrader, Findusedonline, cars.com, and Edmunds. They offer price transparency and seller certification that you need to negotiate and buy with confidence.
