Running a VIN check before buying a used vehicle is necessary – including a motorcycle. A VIN report gives you a conclusion of a vehicle’s past, like accident and odometer records. CARFAX is no doubt one of the best for four-wheeled vehicles. But is it working for a motorcycle? In this post, we’ll share how to get motorcycle CARFAX reports at a lower price.
Is CARFAX offering VIN lookup for motorcycles?
CARFAX doesn’t have a special version for motorcycles. And if you run a motorcycle VIN check with it, chances are you won’t get much information. Because CARFAX only works for limited models of motorcycles.
Besides, buying a single CARFAX report costs you $44.99, which is not so convenient if you’re comparing multiple target motorcycles. But no worries, there are other lookup tools available that work well on motorcycles. Better yet, they offer unlimited reports for a relatively low price. Read on to find out how.
How to run a Motorcycle VIN lookup at a lower price?
Running a VIN lookup can present you with much information about a motorcycle, including its detailed specifications, theft record, title history, and more. And it doesn’t have to be expensive.
To help you find the lookup tools that both work on motorcycles and are reasonably priced, we’ve tested several and selected two of the best.
1. BeenVerified
BeenVerified is a top-rated vehicle search engine that sources data from NMVTIS-approved providers. With access to databases covering over 150 million vehicles, it allows you to get a comprehensive look into the vehicle history. Enter the VIN, then BeenVerified will find you the specs, prices, title history, and more.
- Go to BeenVerified.
- Enter the VIN and click SEARCH.
- Wait for BeenVerified to search in its database. Once done, it’ll generate a report including everything it can find related to the VIN.
2. Bumper
Bumper is an NMVTIS data provider and also a strong alternative to BeenVerified. It is a professional vehicle search tool that gathers vehicle records from government agencies, insurance providers, car industry sources, and more. Enter a VIN, you’ll get vehicle specs, accidents, theft records, and more.
- Go to Bumper.
- Enter the VIN and click SEARCH.
- Wait for Bumper to scour its database and find you all the available records associated with the VIN number. Once done, it’ll generate a report containing all it can find online.
Perform a mechanical inspection before buying
Even though a VIN report is easy to get and reveals much history about a motorcycle, it shouldn’t take the place of a thorough mechanical inspection. That’s because many motorcycle owners fix their motorbikes themselves or at independent workshops, which might not be reported to insurance companies or the police. In that case, these records will not show on any VIN reports.
As you shop around, don’t forget to check the motorcycle carefully or bring a mechanic to do it for you. Besides, you should also take it for a test drive before making the final decision. That’ll help you avoid scamming.
Other free VIN lookup resources
- NICB (Theft & salvage records)
NICB VINCheck is a free VIN lookup tool provided by the National Insurance Crime Bureau. It gives you a vehicle’s theft and salvage records quickly and costs no money. - NHTSA (recalls)
NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) offers a free VIN lookup service to help you learn whether a particular vehicle has unrepaired safety recalls.
Note that the platforms listed above might not cover all models of motorcycles. If you’d prefer a fast and unlimited VIN lookup for motorcycles, you can give BeenVerified a try.
That’s pretty much how to get a cheap CARFAX VIN lookup for motorcycles. We hope you find them helpful and find the perfect one for yourself.