About Us

Advantages

Affiliate Program

carVertical Affiliate Program Terms of Service (Agreement)

Audi VIN Decoder Australia: Free VIN check

Blog

For Business

Chevrolet VIN Decoder Australia: Free VIN check

Contacts

Cookie Policy

Dodge VIN Decoder Australia: Free VIN Check

Ducati VIN decoder Australia: Free VIN check

Feedback

Ford VIN Decoder Australia: Free Ford VIN check

Gift

Giveaway Rules

Harley-Davidson VIN decoder Australia: VIN check

Help

Partner With Us

Jeep VIN Decoder Australia: Free Jeep VIN Check

Kawasaki VIN number decoder Australia: VIN check

Lexus VIN Decoder Australia: Free Lexus VIN Check

Mercedes VIN Decoder Australia: Free VIN check

Motorcycle VIN number decoder Australia: VIN check

New Carvertical

Nissan VIN Decoder Australia: Free VIN check

Honda VIN Decoder

Precheck

Press Area

Pricing

Privacy policy for users of the website/app services

Privacy Policy Candidates

VIN Decoder RAM Australia: Free RAM VIN Check

Refund Policy

Report

Sample Report

Information Security Policy

Subscription Service Terms and Conditions

Subscription Terms and Conditions

Suzuki motorcycle VIN decoder Australia: VIN check

Terms & Conditions

Toyota VIN Decoder Australia: Free VIN check

Remove Your Data

Privacy notice on the processing of vehicle data

VIN Decoder Australia: Free VIN Number Check

Volkswagen VIN decoder Australia: Free VIN check

Yamaha VIN decoder Australia: Free VIN check

Tadas Švenčionis

Clients and business partners often ask us: 

how are carVertical vehicle history reports created?

These questions are understandable – car history reports can turn up some truly unexpected information. Not too long ago, car buyers had to rely on the honesty of sellers and their mechanic’s expertise to get a decent used car.

Well, as much as we’d like to have magical powers, the truth is simpler and more interesting. In this article, we’ll look at how carVertical reports are made.

Check any VIN to learn a vehicle's history!

Afraid of buying a wreck?

The VIN: the key to unlocking your vehicle’s history

Almost every car manufactured after 1981 has a 

, which acts as the vehicle’s fingerprint. The VIN is used by various institutions – like the police, insurance companies, and service centers – to record major events in a car’s life. 

Accidents, thefts, mileage checks, ownership changes

, and much more are logged with this number.

Because we live in a digital age, most of this data is stored in 

. The VIN is our key to getting that data.

How carVertical reports are created: a behind-the-scenes look

While the report is simple and easy to understand, the technical process behind it is complex, dynamic, and always evolving. Here’s a look at how we turn raw data into clear, actionable insights for you.

When you enter the VIN on the carVertical app or website, we automatically search through 

2. Cleaning the data and sorting it into usable pieces

The data we receive from various sources is typically raw and requires several steps of processing. Let’s use an example to illustrate this procedure:

Imagine we receive a Swedish document for a black 

 with 5,000 Scandinavian miles (50,000 km) on the odometer, dated 

. Before we can use this information, we need to:

 Data is often manually entered into systems, leading to typos or other mistakes.

We can now group this data with info from other found records, and use it to generate the report.

3. Assigning the sorted out pieces of data to relevant report sections

To have a closer look at how data becomes a part of the carVertical report, let’s take the same black Mercedes.

We know from the above document that it had 50,000 km on the odometer at the time this information was recorded.

The reason “we” (meaning, the carVertical system) knows this is because we’ve analyzed the document and isolated these 3 pieces of information – “

Now let’s imagine we’ve found 2 more data records on this Mercedes, offering the following information:

This information tells quite a story – we just have to put it together.

To do that, we group information types into our report sections. For example, we have 3 odometer readings and the dates when they were taken. These will appear in the Odometer section of the report. Meanwhile, the technical inspection information will be in the Legal status and Timeline sections, etc.

4. Using statistical models to generate insights and perform fixes

So we now have the data and it has been processed for use in a carVertical report. But there’s still more work to be done “under the hood” – mainly using statistical models and other technological solutions to fix issues and enrich the report.

There are too many uses for these technologies to name, but as an example, 

we use statistical models to provide additional insights to users

 (e.g., we can compare the mileage of our example Mercedes with other cars of the same model, age, etc.).

This process works both ways: we use statistical models to enrich the current report, and we use data from the current report to enrich our statistical models.

At this point, all the information we’ve gathered, cleaned, sorted, and enriched is used to generate a carVertical report. Let’s return to our Mercedes for a final example. Here’s what its Odometer section might look like:

While this black Mercedes may seem appealing, the above graph should make any potential buyer think twice!

From the report, users would also learn about the car’s journey – arriving in Sweden, being sold to another owner in Sweden, and finally ending up in Finland. Using statistical models we can also provide the price range for this model of car, as well as an 

 graph (although the latter would not change much, considering the mileage rollback!), and more.

Avoid costly problems by checking a vehicle's history. Get a report instantly!

Check your VIN

Damages, mileage readings, and everything else: Which data comes from what sources?

Without discussing specific databases / sources of specific information in our reports, we can look at some general rules for where certain types of data may come from.

Before we do that, however, it’s important to understand a couple of things:

The same type of information can come from different types of sources.

 E.g., mileage records (even the same record) can come from a maintenance visit, a police record, or elsewhere.

There’s a lot of variety from country to country.

 The same types of institutions may have different record-keeping roles in systems depending on the country.

So where might you find those damage records, odometer readings, and other details?

carVertical is ISO/IEC 27001:2017 certified

As a company dealing with a lot of data, we take security very seriously. To prove our commitment, 

carVertical has earned ISO/IEC 27001:2017 certification

 – the global standard for information security.

To receive ISO/IEC 27001:2017 certification, a company has to implement tools and procedures, protecting all verbal, written, and electronic information received, sent, created, managed, and used from all possible threats: external, internal, intentional, or accidental.

This certification means we’ve put in place strict measures to protect all verbal, written, and electronic information from any threats—be they 

external, internal, accidental, or intentional

 Your personal data, report data, and financial details are all protected by top-tier security systems. Want more details? Check out 

our Information Security Policy and Information Security Management System (ISMS

The carVertical report is simple and easy to read, but there’s a lot that goes into that simplicity. Our Data Department is a good reflection of this: carVertical currently has almost 200 employees, and as much as 15% of them work on data.

That’s a significant number of people who are good at math!

 is responsible for building and maintaining our data infrastructure and pipelines

 develops and deploys machine learning models

 analyzes data to extract insights and inform business decisions

Each of these teams plays a crucial role in making the carVertical report – we literally would not exist without them!

Why aren’t carVertical reports free?

Is it possible to find all the data myself?

carVertical data sources: How history reports are created

Karolis Bareckas

Checking a car’s history online is a bulletproof way to avoid vehicles with manipulated mileage and hidden damages. In this article, we’ll explain how to get a free carVertical report and mitigate the risk of getting a bad deal.

What is a carVertical car history report?

carVertical car history report is a collection of historical records about a used car, which can help you decide if it’s a good deal. 

Buying a used car without inspecting its past can be risky, as sellers may hide (or not know) important information about a vehicle.

A carVertical car history report can tell you:

Whether you get a free car history report from the seller (or dealership) or a 

 yourself, it will give you a comprehensive overview of a vehicle’s past with all the available 

information collected from over 900 databases

How to get a free car history report from carVertical

1. Get a free carVertical report by asking the seller to give you one

Since car history reports have become increasingly popular in the last decade, many buyers provide free carVertical reports themselves. This may be mentioned in the ad to create a sense of trust and attract potential buyers. Otherwise, you can ask the seller directly.

2. Buy from our partner dealerships to get a free carVertical report

carVertical partner dealerships take the quality of their cars seriously and provide buyers with carVertical free car history check to enhance transparency.

dealers have carVertical flags or other brand material on their premises

, signifying a partnership with our company. All the cars they sell are accompanied by a free car history report, so you can quickly explore the history of multiple cars you’re interested in.

3. Look for carVertical badges and integrations in online marketplaces and classified ad portals

When browsing online car marketplaces and classified ad portals, 

look for the carVertical logo in the ad. This means the dealership has a partnership with our company

, you’ll get a free carVertical report beforehand to see a vehicle’s historical records.

How does a carVertical vehicle history report help when buying a used car?

Acquiring a full carVertical history report may suggest to you if that car is worth the bargain. 

Classified ad portals are full of vehicles with questionable history, making it hard to find a model in good condition.

Instead of wasting time and meeting every seller in person, you can 

 of all the cars you’re interested in and decide whether they meet your criteria. If a vehicle has a clean history, you can arrange a test drive with the seller and see the car in person.

In a carVertical history report, you can discover:

. If the seller claims that the car has 100,000 km on the odometer, but the report says that the mileage was clocked, you can walk away or negotiate a lower price.

It’s normal for a car to suffer damages every few years.

 However, knowing the damage value the vehicle has experienced can help you make a decision. Nobody wants a 

, which may also be unsafe to drive and require extensive repairs in the long run.

The price for a car history report is not steep compared to the financial losses you may suffer if you buy a car in poor condition.

 Nobody wants to overpay for a vehicle with manipulated mileage or visit a mechanic to fix hidden damages that may have been exposed by a simple VIN number check.

How can I check a car's history for free?

How can I get a free car report?

Can I check VIN history for free?

How to get a free carVertical report 

Simonas Žižiūnas

The first half of 2024 has been fruitful for carVertical both as a company and as a product. We’ve made lots of exciting updates to our 

, making it even more informative and easier to understand.

For those buying cars in / from the USA: quickly check Certificate of Title information, especially car title brands.

Find out if the car could have been in the area of a natural disaster – avoid water damage and more.

View the vehicle’s safety rating (NHTSA, EuroCAP, or ANCAP) and recorded safety recalls.

Our AI tool can now analyze photos to detect damages (even if there’s no damage record).

These latest upgrades will help our users learn more about the vehicles they’re interested in – particularly when it comes to making smarter purchasing decisions.

And there’s more to come! So let’s take a closer look at what’s new and what’s in the pipeline for later this year.

Title check feature: Avoid bad deals when importing cars from the US

Buying a used car from the United States will now be easier with the new 

 feature. Knowing whether a car has a clean or a branded title (e.g. “

 can help you skip the awful cars or negotiate the price.

If the car has a branded title, you’ll see what brand it has (and since when) in the Title Check section of the report.

Natural Disasters feature: Avoid hidden damages

 section in the carVertical report will tell you if the vehicle’s location was recorded in an area hit by a natural disaster, such as a flood, volcanic eruption, or tropical cyclone, around the time it occurred.

If this data is available, a vehicle history report will include a map of the affected area and more details, such as the type of disaster, when and where it happened, and its severity.

Since natural disasters can damage the vehicle’s internal components and the damage may not appear instantly, it’s crucial to be aware of such events and inspect the car properly.

Quickly check the vehicle safety information

From now on, you can quickly learn about specific vehicles’ safety ratings and recalls from the report’s 

The overall car safety score provided by the responsible organization in your region (NHTSA, Euro NCAP, or ANCAP) will appear in the form of stars, ranging from 1 to 5 (NHTSA) or 0 to 5 (Euro NCAP/ANCAP).

Besides the star rating, you will also see the official explanation of the score and crash-testing results for specific areas.

*Note that safety scores may not be available for all models since car assessment programs usually cover more common vehicles.

In case of any safety recalls, you will see whether it’s 

 Other important information in the report can include the date the recall was announced, its number, description, risk, and similar.

This particular warning is crucial for safety, as used car owners are not always aware of recalls affecting their vehicles due to secondhand ownership or limited awareness of the automotive news.

Learn about past accidents regardless of existing damage records

You can now learn whether a vehicle has been in an accident even if the record doesn’t appear in accessible databases.

 from the Photos section of the vehicle history report and warn users about potentially lingering issues that may otherwise stay unknown.

If the AI checks the photos and spots the damage, the record will appear in the Damage section of the report.

We’re always trying to innovate, and make our reports more informative and easier to understand. Here’s a couple features users should expect later this year:

We want to help our users look after their cars, so we’re improving our maintenance schedule feature by making it model-specific and based on manufacturer guidelines.

With the popularity of electric vehicles growing, we want to provide more insights to EV buyers and drivers. We’re currently working on a feature that will offer valuable information about the vehicle’s battery health and driving range.

So stay tuned – there’s more to come!

What’s new: carVertical report features and improvements in 2024

Renata Liubertaitė

Damage history is one of the key considerations when buying a car. Sadly, some accidents don’t appear in accessible databases, making them more difficult to learn about.

One of the ways we’re addressing this problem is through AI, which helps us identify damages from the Photo section of our vehicle history report. Even if there’s no damage record, we may now be able to spot past accidents and warn our users.

Enter a VIN code to learn more about any vehicle!

Need help buying a used car?

Our AI can now analyze the Photos section of the vehicle history report and identify whether a vehicle has been damaged in the past.

, but we do have photos of a vehicle with visible damages. In the past, this would not be displayed in the damage section of our report.

By analyzing vehicle photos, our AI damage feature can spot visible damages. If this happens, the record will now appear in the damage section of the report. This reduces the chances that our users will miss it – regardless of the available damage records.

A picture is worth a thousand words, goes the old saying. This is even truer with AI doing the looking, but don’t count yourself out, either.

Photos can tell you what questions you need to ask the seller before sealing the deal. So always check the Photo section in the carVertical history report for more insights.

Why should you always check the vehicle for damage?

Knowing the vehicle’s damage history before buying it allows you to uncover potential weak spots and avoid bad deals. Always check the damage history to:

 Accidents, especially high-impact ones, can cause structural damage to a vehicle's frame or chassis. This damage may not always be visible but can weaken the vehicle's structure, compromising your safety on the road.

 Buying a car with undisclosed damages may lead to expensive repairs, a lower resale value, and more difficulty to sell in general.

Company News

carVertical data sources: How history reports are created

How to get a free carVertical report

What’s new: carVertical report features and improvements in 2024

Our new AI damage feature can identify collisions from vehicle photos

Importing cars from the US made easy: Introducing the Title Check feature in the carVertical report

New carVertical report Safety feature – avoid dangerous vehicles

Avoid damaged cars with our new Natural Disasters report feature

carVertical information security management system gets ISO/IEC 27001:2017 certification

Research: The most surprising used car market facts of 2023

carVertical’s Market Transparency Index for 2023: which countries are the riskiest for used car buyers?

Meet the new carVertical: check out our renewed report and style

carVertical among the fastest-growing European companies in 2022 – what's next?

Introducing carVertical’s Market Transparency Index for 2022

carVertical presents motorcycle history checks!

carVertical doubles revenue in 2021 – what does the future hold?

ReDrive 2021: carVertical’s year in numbers

WMI Suggest: learning by trial and error with the help of AI

Turn your smartphone into the car check expert with this new app

Company News

carVertical data sources: How history reports are created

How to get a free carVertical report

What’s new: carVertical report features and improvements in 2024

Our new AI damage feature can identify collisions from vehicle photos

Importing cars from the US made easy: Introducing the Title Check feature in the carVertical report

New carVertical report Safety feature – avoid dangerous vehicles

Avoid damaged cars with our new Natural Disasters report feature

carVertical information security management system gets ISO/IEC 27001:2017 certification

Research: The most surprising used car market facts of 2023

carVertical’s Market Transparency Index for 2023: which countries are the riskiest for used car buyers?

Meet the new carVertical: check out our renewed report and style￼

carVertical among the fastest-growing European companies in 2022 – what's next?

Introducing carVertical’s Market Transparency Index for 2022

carVertical presents motorcycle history checks!

carVertical doubles revenue in 2021 – what does the future hold?

ReDrive 2021: carVertical’s year in numbers

WMI Suggest: learning by trial and error with the help of AI

Turn your smartphone into the car check expert with this new app

Meet the new carVertical: check out our renewed report and style