Every vehicle starts out its life with a clean title. And a VIN (Vehicle Identification Number) is like a social security number of a vehicle. It identifies and tracks important information about a specific automobile, and if any major event occurs or is reported, there would be a title change to reflect its condition (rebuilt, lemon, salvage, etc.).

When you’re making the financial move of buying a new used car, it’s important to run a title search by VIN to knowwho legally owns the car and what condition it is in. Here in this article, we’re showing you exactly how…

1. Check title status with BeenVerified

BeenVerified is a powerful vehicle lookup tool to gain insights into a car’s past and current conditions. Just enter its VIN number, then you may be able to dig up a wealth of information associated with the car: title status, owner details, accident records, theft records, salvage records, safety recalls, and more if available.

1. Go to BeenVerified Vehicle Search.
2. Pop in your vehicle’s digits and click SEARCH.
   
3. Wait a few seconds as BeenVerified gathers records for the vehicle and generates a report.
   

2. Run a VIN title search with Bumper

Bumper is an approved NMVTIS Data Provider. In a joint effort to protect consumers from vehicle-related frauds, Bumper not only unlocks valuable details about a car’s specs but also reveals key information that could affect a car’s value and safety – with the title history being part of it.

1. Go to Bumper Vehicle Search.
2. Enter the VIN and click SEARCH.
   
3. Sit tight as Bumper builds a report based on the vehicle. You can also download its mobile app so that you can view the results on the go.
   

3. Look up a vehicle’s title EPICVIN

Powered by an official NMVTIS data provider, EpicVIN is a vehicle lookup tool dedicated to helping you get the full story of a vehicle in its previous life. Apart from the evident facts (e.g. car parts, manufacture plant, title records, etc.), it also checks for potential unwelcome surprises: mileage inconsistency, hidden damages, theft records, photos of previous sales, remodifications, and so forth.

1. Go to the EPICVIN official website.
2. Type the VIN number as suggested, then click Check VIN.
   
3. Wait a few seconds as EPICVIN sifts through its database and compiles a report for you, which may contain records of title changes if available.
   

Common types of vehicle titles

Once you conduct a title search by VIN, you should be able to learn about the current status of the vehicle you are searching for. While the naming system for the titles varies on a state-by-state basis, in general, there are four major title names for a vehicle: Clean, Clear, Salvage, Rebuilt/Reconstructed.

• Clean Title: A Clean title means that the vehicle has never been declared a total loss. “Clean” may sound ideal, but it doesn’t mean a vehicle is 100% without problems – it just means that the car has never been reported as stolen or ever been in an accident that’s severe enough to warrant branding.
• Clear Title: Not to be confused with “Clean”, a Clear title indicates there are no types of liens, financial burdens, or disputes about the title. The owner owns the vehicle outright and no third parties can question its legal ownership.

Vehicles with Clean and Clear titles are the most desirable conditions you’d look for in a second-hand car.

• Salvage Title: A Salvage title is issued when a vehicle has been damaged and deemed a total loss by an insurance company. Although categories differ from state to state, it may signify that a vehicle has suffered from a serious collision, flood, fire, or other disastrous events that make it not economically worth fixing. Although a car carrying such a title can sell anywhere from 20% to 40% cheaper than its clean-titled counterparts, it is generally considered not eligible for on-road use before proper repairs, hence a very low trade-in value & ineligibility for insurance claims.
• Rebuilt/Reconstructed Title: A Rebuilt or Reconstructed title is given to a car that has once been totaled (salvaged) and is now revived into a road-worthy condition. On the surface, the problems may have been fixed, but a rebuilt or reconstructed car could still be problematic on the road and prove to be very difficult to resell or get insured.

Apart from Salvage and Rebuilt/Reconstructed, below is a list of other commonly-used terms for branded titles:

• Bonded: A bonded title can be applied to register a vehicle with DMV to establish a vehicle’s ownership, get insurance or sell the vehicle.
• Lemon or Buyback: Vehicle has been bought back by the manufacturer for having recurring mechanic problems, according to state lemon laws.
• Odometer Rollback: Vehicle’s odometer reading does not match the distance it has traveled, either because the odometer has been replaced or tampered with.
• Water Damage: Vehicle has sustained water damage (from flooding, hurricane, etc.) but was not totaled out as a result.
• Junk: Vehicle has suffered from irreparable damage and can only be used as a source for scaps or parts.
• Recovered Theft: Vehicle was once declared a total loss by an insurance company due to theft but has now been restored to a road-legal status.
• Prior Taxi/ Prior Police:Vehicle has been previously used in a taxi/police fleet.
• Gray Market: Vehicle was not manufactured in the U.S. but is for sale in the U.S.

Again, each state may have different definitions and procedures for the titling of registered vehicles. So when you’re looking at a specific title, you may want to refer to your state’s regulations and check out the states where it’s been previously owned (if any).

Why title checks matter

While a clean title may seem ideal, it unfortunately doesn’t guarantee a vehicle is without problems. Cars can hide all manner of issues unbeknownst to the owner – faulty parts, flood damage, suspicious mileage, and more. These not only threaten your wallet but your safety as well.

This is why thoroughly vetting a vehicle through a service like BeenVerified is critical. A comprehensive title check helps protect against several key threats:

• Title Fraud – Branded, salvage, or rebuilt cars can be illegally washed to hide their status. This puts buyers at risk of overpaying and serious safety hazards.
• Financial Burdens – Undisclosed loans, liens and fees associated with a vehicle can become the new owner’s responsibility. This can saddle buyers with unexpected debts.
• Costly Repairs – Knowing a car’s accident and damage history flags upcoming issues. Unforeseen major repairs can leave owners stranded with expensive shop bills.

Without confirming a clean title, you may end up liable for illegal branding, unpaid taxes and fees, loan balances, and problem fixes on your “new” car. For your wallet and peace of mind, a title check helps avoid these disastrous surprises…

How to spot title fraud

When handling a vehicle with a suspicious title, watch for these common warning signs of illegal tampering:

• Missing VIN plates or tampered VIN labels
• Out of sequence VIN numbers/letters
• Identifying numbers that don’t match the title or registration
• Title documents having conflicting location history

Dig deeper by cross-checking details with services like Bumper:

• Unreported salvage records
• Branding history mismatches
• Odometer rollbacks or anomalies
• Discrepancies around previous owners

Stay vigilant around any unclear history, records gaps, or documentation inconsistencies that suggest title washing. A full VIN background scan helps uncover doctored titles or brands illegally hidden from unsuspecting buyers.

Impacts of a branded title

While cheaper upfront, vehicles with rebuilt, salvage, or lemon titles should give buyers pause. These branded cars can dramatically lose value and limit ownership rights:

• Up to 65% lower resale value
• Ineligible for certification programs
• Denied full insurance coverage
• Difficulty getting loans approved
• Complex registration and inspection rules

On top of sharply reduced worth for trades or sales, branded cars pose financial risks if they can’t get comprehensive coverage or loan financing. Title histories reveal brands that may severely limit ownership options for you down the road.

Choosing a VIN Lookup Service

As a buyer shopping for a used vehicle, having access to a vehicle’s history is invaluable in making an informed purchasing decision. When selecting a VIN lookup service, consider what information is most important to you and how comprehensive you need the reports to be.

Service	Key Features
	– Detailed snapshot of a vehicle’s history – Easy online and mobile access – 7-day trial for only $1
	– NMVTIS approved and integrated – Vehicle comparison, value appraisal, and market place – 7-day trial for only $1
	– Quick VIN basic checks available  – Ability to store VINs for tracking  – Official NMVTIS Source – Unlimited reports package starting at $4.99 – 98% positive customer feedback

Of the three services mentioned in this article, BeenVerified stands out as a top choice for its detailed vehicle history reports and comprehensive snapshot of critical information needed when buying a used car. With easy online and mobile access, buyers can perform quick VIN lookups to inform purchasing decisions. The inexpensive 7-day trial makes it easy to test out the service as well.

Following behind Beenverified, Bumper also offers robust reporting including salvage and brand checks, odometer analysis, sales photos, and integration with NMVTIS data. The 7-day trial gives a chance to try this service at a very low cost too.

While EpicVIN does provide some free information and positive customer service, its paid packages start at a higher price point than the introductory offers from Beenverified and Bumper. For shoppers wanting really comprehensive details upfront during the used car buying process, the other two services edge out EpicVIN through trial pricing and report depth.

So consider which vehicle history features align best with your used car research needs. Whether you want salvage and title details, mileage analysis, recall checks, and more, one of these services should provide the VIN lookup value you need to make a smart purchasing decision. Test them out and do your due diligence before committing to any used vehicle.

That’s it – 3 helpful methods to help you run a title search by VIN. Hopefully, it has shed some light on your car-buying process. If you have any questions, ideas, or suggestions, you’re more than welcome to let me know in the comments. Thanks!