ClearVin Vs AutoCheck: What Is The Best Choice?

Checking a vehicle is a key part of buying a used car online or managing its title. VIN reports provide important information about a car’s history that may not be immediately apparent, such as liens and title brands.

What Is a Vehicle Report?

A vehicle report is a detailed document that provides information about a vehicle’s history, including ownership records, accident history, title status, and other important details. This information can be vital when a motor vehicle services notice is issued, as such notices may inform the owner of required actions, like addressing a recall, updating registration or completing a mandatory inspection. The data in the vehicle report can help owners understand why they’ve received the notice, ensuring they stay compliant with motor vehicle regulations.

Having a vehicle report can also provide peace of mind and confidence in the purchase or sale of a vehicle, but vehicle reports can be obtained from various sources, so the information, data accuracy, pricing may vary a lot. It’s always better to set before official data providers and well-known services to avoid scams and deceptive data.

Reports from services such as AutoCheck or ClearVin shed light on a car’s backstory being a safe resource of vehicle data and secure payment processing. Each has its strengths and blind spots, so below we’ll look at how to maximize your time and investment. 

ClearVin

ClearVin has been an official NMVTIS data provider for over a decade. With a professional team and extensive connections in the automotive industry, ClearVin’s report includes a comprehensive set of records associated with the vehicle’s identification number (VIN), providing detailed car information that cannot be obtained through a visual inspection or test drive.

The report offers a chronological listing of past owners and the duration of their vehicle ownership, reveals details about any collisions or damage, provides sales history including real photos and pricing, and highlights significant events such as salvage titles, title liens, thefts, or effects of natural disasters like floods or fire damage.

A single ClearVin report costs $15.99, and they also offer packages of 3 reports for $23.98 ($7.99 per VIN) and 5 reports for $28.99 ($5.78 per VIN). 

AutoCheck

AutoCheck is a well-known vehicle report service owned by Experian, the credit reporting company. AutoCheck reports vehicle history and is notable for providing accurate vehicle title information and odometer progression.

One of the key features of AutoCheck Report is a car score that helps forecast the predicted reliability of a vehicle, similar to ClearVin Rating. Notwithstanding have different evaluation systems and score naming, the principal goal is the same – to appraise a vehicle condition based on its title history, age, accidents and depreciation. AutoCheck charges $24.99 for a single report.

The chart below lists all the data points available by each service: 

Providing the same title history, the main difference remains that AutoCheck supports buyback protection, while ClearVin provides detailed sales history from dealers and auctions with photos and report costs. 

When May You Need a Vehicle Report?

Vin check services, just like license plate lookups, are valuable for both individual car buyers and businesses. The report helps buyers verify the accuracy of information provided by sellers and ensures the vehicle has a clean title, thereby avoiding purchasing a vehicle with hidden issues or potential problems.

Furthermore, it aids in identifying possible issues that could impact the vehicle’s value or safety, facilitating a more transparent and secure transaction with car dealers and online marketplaces. Also, to protect yourself and register a vehicle without any problems, it is important to conduct a thorough title lien check by VIN as a lender has the right to claim ownership if the lien wasn’t cleared. 

For businesses, vehicle reports are essential to ensure the maintenance and safety of fleet vehicles, pinpoint potential risks or liabilities associated with the vehicles, and make informed decisions regarding fleet management, vehicle replacement, or resale. 

While a vehicle history report does not guarantee that you are purchasing a good used car, it serves as a crucial initial step. It is still advisable to conduct a mechanical inspection. However, obtaining a report can save you time and money by providing valuable insights and protecting you from purchasing a car with a dubious history.

How To Choose The Service? 

If you are wondering how to choose a reliable service that meets your requirements, the answer is simple: to make a decision, you need to identify the key features you are looking for and consider your budget.

If you need title registration and lien records, NMVTIS brands, salvage or junk information, and mileage progression – both reports provide this data, so you can choose based on your budget or readability preferences. If you are seeking vehicle market values, sales history, and photos, ClearVin would be the preferable choice. On the other hand, if you require vehicle service or maintenance records, AutoCheck or Carfax would be the more suitable options. 

Additionally, consider your estimated monthly usage and the frequency at which you will utilize the service. AutoCheck’s higher-tier plan at $49.99 provides access to five reports within 21 days, whereas ClearVin’s package for 5 VIN checks costs $28.99 with no time limits to use the remaining balance. If you need just basic reports, you can also find free vin check services online.

Whether you are a small business owner or an individual looking for a used car, it is important to choose only authorized services and products based on your own priorities and needs.