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What is a Canadian Vehicle History Check?

A vehicle history check or VIN check, as its commonly known, will reveal important information about a vehicle, including its manufacturer, year of manufacture, and safety features. It can also tell you whether a car has been in any accidents or is subject to any recalls. 

Sometimes, a VIN check is also referred to as a chassis number lookup because the number is located on the vehicles chassis.

You can get a Canadian vehicle history check from several sources, including the manufacturer, this website, or your insurance company. It’s a good idea to get one before you buy a used car, to make sure you know what you’re getting into.

When you’re buying a used car, it’s important to do your research. A VIN check can help you learn about a car’s history and safety features. 

VIN Check or License Plate Check?

Here at Vehicle Check Canada we give you the option of checking your vehicle history via the VIN number or by the license plate number. We have developed the system that links a vehicles VIN or chassis number and license plate together so this now gives you two options to use to generate a vehicle history report.

Both methods produce the same report data so you can use either.

Most people find that the license plate is easier to locate than the VIN number because the plates are visible on the front and rear of every vehicle. The license plate, or otherwise know as the number plate is a convenient way to source the vehicle history.

The vehicle identification number (VIN) is a unique code that identifies your car. It’s made up of 17 characters, and you can find it on the dashboard, driver’s side door pillar of the chassis, or insurance card.

location of vin number

Where to Find A VIN Number

You can find the VIN number in several places on a car. The most common locations are on the dashboard, the driver’s side door pillar, and the insurance card. The VIN number is also stamped into the metal chassis frame of the car.

If you can’t find the VIN number on the car, you can check the registration or title. The VIN number is usually listed in the upper-right corner.

The best way to get a VIN check is to use an online service like Vehicle Check Canada where you can get a free vin check or search chassis number in Canada. It will give you a detailed report on the car, including its history, make, model, and any accidents or damage that have been reported.

licence plate location

Where to Find A License Plate Number

You can find the license plate number or number plate is located on the front and rear of the car and is normally fitted to the bumper.

You can copy down the number on the plate and enter it directly into our License Plate search tool below.

A license plate check will provide you the same data as a VIN check will but the location of the number on the vehicle is normally more convenient for you to locate, so many people prefer this method.

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BENEFITS OF VEHICLE
HISTORY REPORT?

A Vehicle History Report will provide you all the information you need to know about a vehicle’s past. So when you finally find your dream car, you can be confident that it’s devoid of any major problems and proves to be the perfect choice for you. Each Vehicle Check Canada VIN chassis check report checks for: 

the girl is sitting on the trunk
A vehicle history report can inform you of any previous structural damage which the vehicle may have suffered. You will find out whether or not the vehicle in question has been in a wreck, if there was structural damage, and if the frame or any other major components were rebuilt.
VehicleCheckCanada will inform you of the last reported mileage of the vehicle in question. Here you will see how many miles the vehicle had on it on the last report, an important factor when it comes to determining the remaining lifespan of the vehicle. Here you will also see if an odometer rollback was performed on the vehicle.
A salvaged vehicle is defined as a form of vehicle which has been damaged or wrecked, and has been determined as a total loss by an insurance company that has paid a claim on it. This provides you with valuable information in terms of the safety of the vehicle, as well as its history
Knowing what the service history of the vehicle in question is like is always important when buying a used vehicle. Does your vehicle have a brand new transmission that was just replaced, or does it have a 10 year old transmission that is on its last legs? This is an example of the type of info you will have access to here.
If there was an insurance claim made on your particular vehicle in the past, you will find out all about it. Here you will find out what the insurance claim was, why it was filed, and how much money was paid out for the claim in question. VehicleCheckCanada has access to both private and public insurance claims for your vehicle.
When you buy a second hand vehicle, you probably want to know who previously owned it and what it was used for. Here you will find out if the vehicle was a short term lease, if it was a long term purchase, or if it was used for other purposes, such as for a Taxi company or even for policing purposes. This can help provide you with a good picture of the possible state of the vehicle.
Knowing whether or not your used vehicle has frame damage is always important before making a purchase. Frame damage can be extremely expensive to fix, something that will affect your overall budget. Previous frame damage, even when repaired, can still pose some serious risks to the occupants of the vehicle.
A total loss is also known as a write off. This is when a vehicle suffers from damages, and then has salvage or repair costs which exceed the insurance value, therefore making it more cost effective to simply replace the vehicle as a whole than to file an insurance claim.
Of course, something that you as a used car buyer never want to do is to buy a stolen vehicle. Believe or not, even if you are not aware that you are driving a stolen vehicle, you can still land in hot water for doing so. Knowing that you have a legal car is always important. VehicleCheckCanada will inform you whether or not the vehicle was reported as stolen, and if so, when it was stolen and from whom
VehicleCheckCanada will also inform you if your vehicle has suffered any hail or flood damage in the past, when and if it was repaired, and whether or not there were any insurance claims made on the damage. These types of damage can lead to structural damage, so it’s quite important to be aware of.
Here you will also find out if the air bags in the previously owned vehicle were ever deployed. If the airbags were deployed, you will find out when and why it happened. You will also receive information on other damages related to the airbag deployment, as well as if and when they were replaced.
Of course, an issue with buying second hand vehicles is that the warranties are often expired or voided for one reason or another. It’s always better to purchase a vehicle that still has a certain warranty time on it, but if your vehicle doesn’t have a warranty anymore, at least you can easily find out about it
Odometer rollbacks are more common with used vehicles than one might think. It’s a sneaky tactic used by sellers to try and make it seem like there are less miles on the vehicle than there actually are. An odometer rollback check will inform you of the true mileage on the vehicle in question.
If the used vehicle in question was in any way branded as a lemon or a piece of junk, you will find out about it. This can help prevent you from spending thousands of dollars on a vehicle that is going to need a lot of repairs or maybe not function at all.
VehicleCheckCanada will also inform you whether or not your car had multiple owners previous to your purchase. The more owners the vehicle had before you, the more likely it is to have some sort of damage.
Vehicles that have been branded refers to a permanent designation assigned to the vehicle. These are applied to a vehicle’s title, registration, or permit documents, and they show that a vehicle was written off due to some form of damage such as a collision, flood, or fire.
If the vehicle you are purchasing has faulty airbags, brakes, or anything in between, you will know about it. Does the vehicle in question have any recalls that have been made? Was the vehicle actually returned to the factory and outfitted with the proper parts? It’s a good way to know whether or not the vehicle in question is safe to drive.
Knowing how many miles were driven per year is always good. This can give you a rough picture of the current shape and age of the vehicle, as well as how long you can expect it to last.
VehicleCheckCanada will also help you find out whether your vehicle is domestic or imported. If it is important, you will be provided with all relevant details in relation to the import.

 

TESTIMONIALS

This service is incredibly useful for anyone buying a used car. I highly recommend this website for anyone in the market for a used vehicle
Michael Adams
If you want to know a used car's vehicle history for free, vehiclecheck.ca can give you the details about accidents, liens, safety ratings, specifications, and others you need
Leeroy Johnson
Love this site. No hidden fees. It's been so nice especially when looking at buying a used car. It's definitely my favorite site when doing a VIN Check in Canada
Susan. H
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DECODE YOUR VIN INSTANTLY

CHECK THE VIN OF YOUR SELECTED CAR RIGHT HERE

NEW!
CHECK YOUR LICENSE PLATE INSTANTLY

CHECK THE LICENSE PLATE OF YOUR CAR HERE

CLICK HERE TO CHECK

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Vehicle Check Canada helps you make an informed decision by providing you solutions for a used car purchase. We help you to decode your VIN on a single click and tell you the market value of your used car through our car valuation calculator. You can also get the information on car insurance, latest news and detailed blog posts on various topics related to used cars which will help you in making an informed choice.  

This is an excellent resource for any person looking to purchase a used vehicle. Vehicle Check Canada will help you determine whether or not the used car in question is worth purchasing, as well as if the vehicle is safe or not. It’s an all in one resource for anybody who is purchasing or has recently purchased a used automobile.

You can find the VIN on your vehicle. In cars and trucks, VIN is present on the driver’s side dashboard or on the driver’s side door (on the door jamb). Motorcycles also have a VIN but it may be located in a variety of places on the frame. 

If you are having trouble locating the VIN, the best way to do is to is to look at the dashboard through the windshield from the outside, on the driver’s side of the vehicle.

here is a variety of valuable information which can be gleamed from a simple VIN decode, such as performed here at Vehicle Check Canada.  

  • Year of manufacture – When was the vehicle made and how old it is? 
  • Manufacturing country – Where was the vehicle made? Was in made in a country with high manufacturing standards? 
  • Make, Model, Trim of the car – When buying a used vehicle, you always want to know what the make and model of it is.  
  • Details about the car engine – How many cylinders does the vehicle have? How large is the engine? How many liters is it? How much HP and torque does it produce? All these details, and more, can all be found out through a simple VIN decode. 

Many people wonder why getting a car history check is important. The primary reason is to ensure that you have all the information possible when purchasing a used vehicle. Knowing about the comprehensive service history, previous accidents, usage history, and more will help you determine whether a car is safe to buy and whether it is worth purchasing.

Yes, this is one of the pieces of information that you will be provided with when you get a free VIN report. So not only will you see who owns the car now, but you will get detailed information about all ownership history.

Most people would agree that getting a free VIN report is worth it. Of course, being free makes a difference; you will receive all the necessary information to make an informed purchase without paying a cent. There is no risk to reward ratio to consider here. The cost is nothing, and therefore there is no risk. Getting a free VIN report is crucial to ensuring that the vehicle you purchase is safe and roadworthy.

As long as you continue to meet the payment terms, it should not affect your credit score. In fact, if you meet and exceed the payment terms, it may actually boost your credit score.

The first digit in a VIN represents the country of origin. The second digit identifies the manufacturer. The third digit may provide you with information about the vehicle type. Then, digits 4 through 8 are used to describe the vehicle. These contain model type, body type, transmission, and engine information. The 9th digit in a VIN is the check digit, a so-called security code. The 10th digit is the model year, the 11th is the manufacturer’s plant code, and digits 12 through 17 are the production number of the vehicle in question.

VIN stands for “Vehicle Identification Number”. It is a 17-character identification number allotted to all types of vehicles built after 1980.  

Each and every vehicle has a different, unique, and specific VIN number. This is what allows Vehicle Check Canada to provide users with a detailed history in relation to any and every vehicle.

A VIN decode is a system such as ours, Vehicle Check Canada, which can decode a vehicle’s VIN number to provide you with useful information about it. For example, the first digit in the VIN tells you the country of origin, the second digit relates to who the maker is, the third digit refers to the type of vehicle, and so on and so forth.  

A vehicle history report tells you everything you need to know about a car. It provides in-depth information and insights into the searched vehicle including: 

  • Vehicle title or its current state – The vehicle title refers to the current owner of the vehicle, and it can also help inform you whether or not the vehicle has been stolen. You will also be made aware of any relevant info in regard to its current state.  
  • Registration status – You will also find out what the registration status of the vehicle in question is like. Is it currently registered or not, and by who?  
  • Usage history – Was the vehicle in question used as a lease, was it a purchase, used as a taxi or a police car? A vehicle history report can inform you of exactly what the vehicle was previously used for. 
  • Damages or repair history – Was the vehicle in question ever in an accident or a wreck? Did it suffer minor or major damages? Are there any new parts in the vehicle that have replaced old or damaged parts?  
  • Odometer reading – How many miles does the vehicle in question have on it? Here you can also find out whether or not your vehicle had an odometer rollback performed on it.  
  • Lemon, salvage, or total loss history – Of course, you always want to know if your vehicle was labelled as a lemon or a piece of junk. Knowing if it is a repaired salvage car is also valuable, as well as if it was written off as a total loss due to major damage.  
  • Additional photos if any – If there are any additional photos of the vehicle in question, such as ones pertaining to a crash or repairs, you will receive those as well.  

Many people are concerned that doing a VIN check will in some way put their safety and security at risk. Well, providing your VIN to do a VIN check is perfectly safe. This is not like your bank account information. The VIN is always in plain sight, like a vehicle’s license plate. So providing your VIN number is not going to put you at risk. In addition, people cannot steal your identity with a VIN number, like a social security number or other information.

Providing your VIN does not put you at risk, so it is recommended to provide it when selling a vehicle. As a buyer, you want to know everything there is to know about a used vehicle. Providing your VIN gives you the best chance of your car being sold for the highest price or being sold at all. This will allow potential buyers to do all of the necessary research on your vehicle, so they can feel confident in their purchase. VIN checks don’t just help buyers make good purchases; they also help sellers make sales to begin with.

Doing a car history check should in no way affect your credit score. However, if you apply for a vehicle loan, this will affect your credit score. That said, a single credit inquiry when looking to secure a car loan should also not have a significant effect on your credit score. Your credit score may decrease by anywhere from 2 to 7 points per check, which is really not very much. Whether you are in Alberta, Ontario, or anywhere else in Canada, this is the case.

If you cannot find the VIN on your vehicle by looking at the dashboard from the exterior of your windshield, just use your licence plate number instead. Otherwise, contact the manufacturer or retailer and provide them with the vehicle’s make and model. They should then tell you where to find the VIN. You may also check the vehicle title and registration documents, as the VIN should be contained within those as well. If your vehicle is already insured, the VIN should also be found on the insurance card or papers.