When venturing into the world of used car buying, particularly from private sellers, cost savings are a significant allure. However, peace of mind comes from gathering as much information as possible about the car to avoid common pitfalls. A crucial aspect of this due diligence is confirming that the intended purchase is free from any existing loans or liens.

What is a lien and why shouldn’t you purchase a car with a lien

A car lien is a legal claim to ensure payment of an amount owed. It happens if the car owner has borrowed money from a bank or other lender to purchase the car. The lien is placed on the title until the loan is paid off. If, however, the loan isn’t paid off, the lender can repossess and resell the car to recover what’s owed to them, regardless of who is currently keeping the keys. To avoid any hassle in the future, you should check if it has any liens prior to buying a used car.

How to check liens on a car

The direct approach is to request information from the seller and scrutinize documents for any signs of liens. For added protection against fraudulent deals, conducting a VIN (Vehicle Identification Number) lookup is recommended. A VIN lookup provides a comprehensive vehicle history report, including alerts for liens, along with details about the title, service history, registration status, accidents, and recalls.

How to perform a free VIN lookup to check for liens on a car

To run a VIN number lookup on the car you plan to purchase, you can go online to the state DMV website and look for the “VIN check” feature. If this feature is not available, you may need to go to your local DMV office and provide a valid reason for requesting the information. Sounds pretty time-consuming, right? Thankfully, there’s another easy-peasy option for you.

The most effective way to conduct a VIN number lookup is to use an online checker and acquire a detailed report that will pinpoint any liens registered against the car.

Below we’ll outline 3 VIN lookup tools, which are NMVTIS-approved providers of vehicle history reports. In addition to searching by VIN, they allow users to research a vehicle by license plate! Simply select the search type based on the information you have at hand. Performing lookups is free, only if you need limited data. To get a full report you’ll have to pay a fee.

#1 BeenVerified VIN lookup

With 10+ years of data expertise and more than 100 million searches performed, BeenVerified is your go-to choice for access to a vehicle’s basics and history. With its VIN number lookup tool, you can get alerts if there are any undisclosed issues, without which you’ll have to rely solely on the seller’s words about a vehicle as your only source of information.

In addition to revealing significant events in the vehicle’s lifespan, BeenVerified also gives you access to people search, reverse phone lookup, and other useful tools to possibly learn more about the seller.

To perform a lookup on BeenVerified, follow the simple step-by-step guide below.

1. Visit BeenVerified’s Vehicle Search page.
2. Enter the VIN number into the box and click SEARCH.
   
   
3. Wait for it to scan the database for the most up-to-date vehicle information. During this process, you may need to answer certain questions in order to find your match. Then a report will be ready. Open it and locate the section that displays the information on the car’s liens.
   
   

#2 Bumper VIN lookup

When you want to know more about a vehicle, Bumper is a great place to start. Equipped with two major search types, searching by a VIN or searching by license plate, Bumper users are able to receive voluminous and detailed information reports. As one of the best Carfax alternatives, Bumper is not that pricey and should be within your budget.

Bumper – before your buy

Bumper is committed to building a better product and providing a game-changer for vehicle searches.

Try VIN Lookup Today

Now get started with your searches with a VIN number.

1. Go to Bumper’s VIN Search page.
2. Input the VIN number into the search box and click SEARCH.
   
   
3. Now Bumper will search its database and put together all the information available into a comprehensive report. Then it’s your time to browse through the report and look for some vital clues.
   
   

#3 EpicVIN VIN number check

Purchasing a pre-owned vehicle is challenging and surprises can spring up as you’ll never know what fault is being concealed from you by the seller. Thanks to EpicVIN, powered by Autoinspect.us LLC, an Approved NMVTIS Data Provider, spotting hidden liens on a vehicle title is no longer complicated as it appears to be. By conducting a vehicle search, you’re less likely to go into a major purchase blind.

EpicVIN – before you buy

EpicVIN’s aim is to reduce uncertainty and fraud in the automotive sector by empowering prospective buyers with an informed insight into a vehicle’s history.

Try VIN Lookup Today

Below are the steps you can take in order to receive a vehicle history report from EpicVIN.

1. Navigate to EpicVIN’s search page.
2. Feed in the VIN number into the search box and
   
   
3. Wait for the system to find the VIN in the database. Once it finds your match, open the report and look for the information that can help you determine whether you should buy the car.
   
   

Car liens frequently asked questions

Q1: How to tell if a car has a lien on the title?

A lien on a car title can be identified by scrutinizing the vehicle’s documents or by conducting a VIN lookup, which reveals any existing liens.

Q2: What will happen if you buy a car with a lien?

Purchasing a car with a lien may lead to complications, including the possibility of the lender repossessing the vehicle. The buyer could face financial repercussions and legal challenges.

Q3: How to remove a lien on a car title?

To remove a lien, the borrower must repay the outstanding loan. Once the lender receives full payment, they will issue a lien release, and the title can be updated accordingly.

Final thoughts

Many unsuspecting buyers find themselves dealing with the consequences of purchasing a vehicle with a lien. While there’s no foolproof method to eliminate all risks, conducting a VIN lookup and gaining insight into a vehicle’s history significantly reduces the chances of falling victim to fraud. With these tools and knowledge, buyers can navigate the used car market with greater confidence and make informed decisions.