// before you fall for it
Should you buy
this car?
Paste the VIN and read what the public record already knows — open recalls, the problems owners report, and federal crash scores. A straight answer in seconds, free, for any US-market vehicle.
the straight answer you'll get
// the decision, in under a minute
Three things the record settles before you even call the seller
Is it under an open safety recall?
Every active recall campaign on file for that year and model, with the system affected — so you know what to confirm was fixed.
NHTSA · recalls
What do owners say actually breaks?
Real complaints drivers filed with NHTSA, grouped by component, so the recurring problems on this model stand out.
NHTSA · complaints
Did it pass federal crash tests?
NHTSA's 5-star ratings — overall, front, side and rollover — where the vehicle was tested.
NHTSA · safety ratings
Free, for any US-market VIN. If a car fails here, you just saved an afternoon.
// how the decision works
A used-car decision in three moves
Screen itFREE
Paste the VIN. In seconds you see recall campaigns, owner complaints, crash-test ratings and the decoded build — enough to rule a car out fast.
Read it as a buyer$16.99
For the one or two worth it: a risk score, what this model tends to break with age, what repairs run, mileage milestones, and a mechanic checklist.
Verify & negotiate
Walk in knowing the open recalls to confirm, the questions to ask the seller, and where your leverage on price actually is.
The free check tells you if a car is worth your time. The report tells you what you're walking into.
Free VIN Check
$0Screen every car on your shortlist. No account, no card.
- VIN decode, recalls, complaints, safety ratings
- Straight from NHTSA, unlimited lookups
Smart Buyer Report
$16.99The full read on the one or two cars you're serious about.
- Risk score, common problems by mileage, repair costs
- Inspection checklist and questions for the seller
// no overclaiming
What we check — and what we don't
We're a decision tool, not a full-history service. Being straight about the line is the point.
What we read
- Open safety recalls (NHTSA)
- Owner complaints by component (NHTSA)
- Federal crash-test ratings (NHTSA)
- Fuel economy — city, highway, combined (EPA)
- Full VIN decode — year, make, model, engine, plant
What lives elsewhere
- —Accident & collision history
- —Liens & title branding
- —Odometer rollback & ownership
- —Theft records
Depending on the car and your state, those are separate checks — and we point you to the right source instead of pretending to cover them.
// what $16.99 decides
A report built around one question: should you buy this car?
Not a data dump. The Smart Buyer Report reads the public record back to you as a buyer and ends on a call you can act on.
The verdict
"Strong model year overall. Four recall campaigns to confirm were completed, and this generation is known for cam-phaser rattle past 90k — get it on a lift before you commit."
Check before you buy
- Confirm all 4 recalls were completed at a dealer
- Undercarriage for salt-belt corrosion
- Cold-start engine rattle (cam phasers)
Every number comes straight from the official record.
We don't invent data or resell another company's report. Each check reads from the US federal sources that hold the record, and shows it as they report it.
NHTSA
Recalls & complaints
Campaigns and owner reports by year/model
NHTSA
Safety ratings
Federal 5-star crash-test results
EPA
Fuel economy
Official city, highway and combined MPG
ISO 3779
VIN decode
Year, make, model, engine, plant
Looking at a specific model? Start here.
Jump straight to the recall and safety record for a popular US vehicle.
One VIN tells you whether to keep looking.
$16.99 for one vehicle — a single payment, 90 days of access, and a 30-day money-back guarantee. The report is ready in under a minute.