When you’re considering used cars for sale in Schaumburg, one of the most important elements to consider, other than the vehicle itself, is the vehicle history report. These reports can provide valuable information that can help you make a more informed purchase decision. To help make the most of these reports, here are a few tips to help you understand and use them as you should.
Understanding Service History
An extensive vehicle service history can be a great sign that the previous owners took good care of the vehicle while they owned it. However, if the service history is mostly non-existent, it’s not necessarily a reason to discard the vehicle. The service history is only updated if changes are reported by the service center that completed the service. Therefore, if the previous owner took their car to a smaller service center or if they completed the service themselves, any maintenance that was completed won’t be on the report.
Understanding Average Mileage
According to the automotive industry, the average number of miles that are driven by a single vehicle in a year is 15,000. If the vehicle history reports indicate that the used cars for sale in Schaumburg that you’re considering were driven under that amount, it’s a good reason to keep them in the running.
However, if the average mileage is greater than 15,000, don’t lose hope. After all, the wear and tear a vehicle receives depends not just on the mileage driven per year but how those miles were driven. If the miles on the car are mostly highway miles, that will show as you inspect the vehicle for yourself.
Understanding Accidents
Unfortunately, auto accidents occur all the time. Ideally, of course, a vehicle is accident-free. However, a vehicle with an accident can still make a great purchase. As you look over the report, study how recently the accident occurred. If the accident was a few years ago and the vehicle is still being driven regularly, everything should be fine. If, however, you don’t see much history after the accident, it’s probably a good idea to move on.
