If you’re looking for a second-hand vehicle, One of the first things you’ll observe is the odometer that displays the miles. It’s important to know how much the vehicle has driven so that you know how many years of the remaining time is left and what price it’s appraised.
But more than a glance into the mirror may be needed to tell the complete picture. One of the best methods is to conduct a VIN search if you’re looking to find out the exact mileage of a car.
A VIN (Vehicle Identification Number) is a unique identifier for every particular vehicle. Conducting a VIN search will provide you with an image of the vehicle’s previous life, helping to determine the distances cars have been able to cover throughout its timeline. This post will show four ways to determine mileage using VIN.
What is the importance of mileage?
The amount of miles traveled is as crucial as age in determining the reliability and worth of a previously owned automobile. While it’s not black or white, the annual mileage range between 10,000 to 15,000 miles is considered good or acceptable. Any mileage that exceeds the 20-mile mark may indicate the car’s vulnerability to repairs, replacements of parts, or requires additional maintenance.
A car with a low mileage can fetch several thousand dollars more than the comparable car that has driven more than 20k miles in a year. This is because of the direct relationship between a car’s mileage and the price at which it is sold that unscrupulous sellers or dealers of automobiles will go to extreme efforts to change the mileage of their car, creating a lower mileage and selling at more money to line their pockets (aka. Odometer fraud and considered a criminal offense in a felony).
Recall check by VIN
A recall is when a company (or NHTSA (the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) decides there’s a risk to safety with the vehicle or it does not meet an acceptable safety standard. A recall typically covers the specific parts or components of a vehicle. It’s uncommon for the entire vehicle to be subject to recall.
Many automakers are proactive with recalls and will issue them in some cases. However, occasionally, NHTSA requires the automaker to conduct recalls. Certain recalls received plenty of media attention, such as recalls with a lot of attention related to airbags over the past few years; however, most recalls occur without much fuss.
Recalls are only made only in situations where the safety of your vehicle is at risk. However, this does not mean that you’re at risk immediately. But, it would help if you made repairs in the shortest time possible. The great news is that in the event of recalls, the manufacturer has found a solution – and the fix is offered at no cost to you (except maybe for the time your vehicle will be repaired).
What do I do to find a recall on my vehicle?
In most cases, the manufacturer will send you a notification via mail informing you of the recall. However, if you’re proactive – or you purchased the vehicle used- it’s a good idea to verify if there are recalls on your own.
Based on the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), Over 100 million used and new vehicles were subject to one or more recalls related to safety in 2014-2015. Recalls aren’t the same in their severity; however, they all pertain to the vehicle’s security, which is why it’s worth looking out for.
Begin by researching your car’s year, model, and year on websites such as KBB.com. Be aware that a recall may not necessarily apply to all vehicles with identical years of manufacture and model. In some cases, only the manual transmission model can be affected. Or just vehicles manufactured on or after a particular date. The most reliable way to find out the truth is to dial the number listed on your vehicle’s recall page or visit the official NHTSA website and search for your car’s 17-character VIN code. Through VIN, anyone can check their car history.
Should I have to pay for recall repairs?
When you discover that the maker (or NHTSA) has discovered that a recall for safety is required for your car, You won’t need to pay for recall-related repairs. The components and labor required for the repair will be provided through the company (which pays dealers). This would be the case even if you purchased the car second-hand or through a private party.
