You found the perfect used car on Craigslist or Facebook Marketplace. The price is great, the photos look clean, and the seller says, “No accidents, runs like new.”
Do not trust them.
Every car has a unique fingerprint called a VIN (Vehicle Identification Number). This 17-character code tracks the car’s entire life-accidents, thefts, and even how many miles it really has.
While sites like Carfax charge $40 for a report, there are free government and OSINT tools that give you the most critical data for free. Here is how to investigate a car before you buy.
Method 1: The “Stolen & Salvage” Check (NICB)
The National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) runs a free database used by insurance companies and law enforcement. This is the first place you must look.
How to use it:
- Find the VIN (usually on the dashboard or inside the driver’s door jamb).
- Go to NICB.org/vincheck.
- Enter the VIN.
What it reveals:
- Theft Record: Is the car currently reported as stolen?
- Total Loss Record: Was this car “Totaled” in a hurricane or a massive crash?
- Red Flag: If the seller says “Clean Title” but NICB says “Total Loss,” you are being scammed.
Method 2: The “History” Report (https://www.google.com/search?q=VehicleHistory.com)
Most people think you have to pay for Carfax. You don’t. https://www.google.com/search?q=VehicleHistory.com is an ad-supported site that gives you most of the same data for free.
How to use it:
- Go to VehicleHistory.com.
- Enter the VIN.
What to look for:
- Sales History: Did the seller buy this car last week? (This is called “Curbstoning”—flipping a bad car quickly).
- Specs: Does the listing say “V8 Engine” but the VIN says “V6”?
- Odometer History: This is key. (See Method 3).
Method 3: The “Odometer Rollback” Check
Digital odometers are easy to hack. A scammer can take a car with 200,000 miles and program it to show 80,000 miles to double the price.
How to catch them: Look at the “Odometer History” section on your VehicleHistory report.
- 2020: 150,000 Miles (Inspection).
- 2023: 180,000 Miles (Service).
- 2026 Listing: 90,000 Miles.
The Verdict: Impossible. The odometer has been rolled back. Walk away immediately.
Method 4: The Photo Check (Reverse Search)
Scammers often post photos of cars they don’t own. They steal the photos from a dealership in another state to get your deposit.
How to check:
- Download the main photo of the car.
- Use Google Lens (see our Reverse Image Guide) to search for it.
The Verdict: If that same photo appears on a dealership website in Texas, but the seller claims to be in New York, it is a fake listing.
Summary: The Buyer’s Protocol
| Goal | Best Tool |
|---|---|
| Check for Theft/Accidents | NICB VINCheck (Official Data) |
| Check Specs & History | https://www.google.com/search?q=VehicleHistory.com (Free Report) |
| Check for Fake Photos | Google Lens (Reverse Search) |
The Bottom Line
A VIN never lies. Sellers do.
Before you meet a stranger in a parking lot, spend 5 minutes running the VIN. If the mileage doesn’t match or the car was reported stolen 3 years ago, you just saved yourself thousands of dollars.
Broaden Your Scope: You can now track Planes, Ships, and Cars. You are a master of transport OSINT.
