An editorial review of provider documentation and public demonstration screenshots: usefulness, limitations and checks before purchase.
A carVertical report can supplement a used-car check, but its value depends on the information found for that VIN. This is an editorial analysis of provider documentation and public examples, rather than an OBDAuto purchase test on our own vehicle.
Start with the vehicle number
Start with available technical details for free. The OBDAuto decoder does not provide accident, mileage, theft or service history.
Free checks and what a paid report may addHow to read a history reportRead the evidence, not just a verdict
Public carVertical demonstration screenshots, not reports purchased or cases investigated by OBDAuto. An example does not guarantee the same data for your car and does not replace an inspection.
carVertical · demonstration exampleRead the event type, date and estimate range. An assessment is not a paid invoice, and amounts should not automatically be added together.
Screenshot source: carVertical ↗ carVertical · demonstration exampleCompare the specifications with the documents and the actual car. This screenshot shows technical details, not a mileage timeline.
Screenshot source: carVertical ↗ Buying guide Editorial review: 22 October 2026Resolve any difference between vehicle markings, documents and the report before paying a deposit. An empty report does not confirm that the car has never been damaged.
Request a clear photo of the VIN on the car and the relevant documents, then arrange dates and mileage readings in order. Keep a budget for an independent inspection.
Consider it for specific history questions, while keeping a separate inspection budget. A public example cannot predict the result for your car.
Your first check at the car
Illustrative windscreen photos from different vehicles. The exact position depends on make, model and market; these images are not model-specific instructions for every car in the guide.
Look from outside at the base of the windscreenWesha · Public domain · Resized and compressed as WebP; cropped for display.
GM example: the plate seen through the windscreenHans Haase · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Resized and compressed as WebP; cropped for display.
Some models show the VIN through the windscreen. A door-frame label or a stamped marking may be elsewhere; check the manufacturer’s manual for your model.
Compare the marking with the vehicle documents and report. Do not confuse an engine code or a part number with the VIN.
Do not scrape or alter markings. If a number is missing, hard to read or does not match, ask a specialist to verify the vehicle’s identity.
A buyer may seek an older mileage reading, a pre-repair photo or a damage record missing from the supplied documents. The provider says sections vary with available vehicle data. Do not assume your report will contain every section shown in a demonstration.
Ask what you will do with a finding. A possible mileage decrease needs document and unit checks; a damage record needs assessment paperwork and inspection of the area. Use the report to guide questions, then verify answers separately.
Sources: carVertical — available report sectionsThe provider's help-centre demonstration shows separate cards: 'Assessment' in December 2023 at €5,001–€10,000 and 'Damage' in January 2024 at €3,001–€5,000. These are estimate ranges, not proof of a paid €10,000 invoice or an OBDAuto-investigated case.
Read each card in full: type, country, date, areas and details. Do not automatically add the amounts or turn an assessment into a confirmed accident. Use them as a starting point for original records and inspection.
Sources: carVertical — meaning of damage valuationsOn a phone, scroll the table to see all columns.
3. Benefits, limitations and alternatives| Question | Possible benefit | Still to verify |
|---|---|---|
| Are older records available? | May bring together events from available sources. | Coverage periods and each record's accuracy. |
| What will repairs cost today? | A historical estimate can guide questions. | Current quote and condition; an estimate is not a workshop offer. |
| Is it better than national records? | May add complementary information. | Compare with RDW, Car-Pass, HistoVec or RAR as relevant. |
Consider a report when the VIN is confirmed and accessible records leave an important question unanswered. Wait if the car or seller is not yet identified. Buying more reports merely to obtain a reassuring result is not a useful checking strategy.
Check the final price, product, access terms and current procedure for missing or incorrect data with the provider. This article assigns no hands-on testing score, confirms no discount and contains no affiliate link. Request clarification of discrepancies and retain the original report.
Sources: carVertical — public sample reportTick off completed checks. The list resets when you reload the page.
0 / 6 checks completed
I confirmed the vehicle VIN. I defined the additional information I need. I read the coverage limitations. I distinguished an estimate from an actual invoice. I checked provider price and terms. I retained an inspection budget.No. It analyses provider documentation and public examples. We do not claim testing on our own vehicle.
Is the €10,000 example a verified hidden-damage case?No. It is the top of an estimate range in a demonstration screenshot, not an independently verified case file.
Is a report with no events a guarantee?No. Assess the dates and data covered and continue with the physical inspection.
Do you offer vehicle inspections, history reports or transport?
Discuss a partnership with OBDAuto.roBuying and paperwork
VIN, RAR Auto-Pass, service records and an independent inspection: what to check first and what a history report cannot prove.
Buying and paperwork How to use an OBD scanner when buying a used carScan before and after a test drive, understand cleared codes and readiness, and combine a VIN report with a pre-purchase checklist.
Buying and paperwork Bringing a car from Germany or the Netherlands to RomaniaPurchase documents, export, transport and preparation for RAR. Two practical routes for private buyers living in Romania.
Buying and paperwork Buying a used car in Germany: documents, transport and VIN checks before travellingPrepare documents, an independent inspection and export before travelling. A Germany-specific route for buyers based in Romania.