How to See if a Car Has Been in an Accident

Last Updated on December 15, 2025

Some vehicles have a clean history, while others do not.

Fortunately, there are a few reliable ways to check whether a car has been in a serious accident — and you can do most of them in under 10 minutes.

Today, you can look up a vehicle’s VIN (Vehicle Identification Number) to check for red flags like theft records, salvage branding, or total loss history. You can also use paid vehicle history reports (like Carfax or AutoCheck) for a broader view — and you should always back it up with a pre-purchase inspection before you buy.

Keep reading to learn the best free and paid ways to check whether a car has ever been in an accident — plus what these reports can’t tell you.

Key Takeaways

• Not every accident shows up on a VIN report — if a crash wasn’t reported to insurers, police, or data partners, it may never appear in a database.
• NICB VINCheck is free and great for major red flags (theft and salvage reporting), but it isn’t a full accident-history tool.
• NMVTIS reports are a strong “official” check for title brands and total loss history (through approved providers), while Carfax/AutoCheck can add broader context.
• The safest approach is combining reports with a pre-purchase mechanic inspection to catch unreported repairs, frame damage, or hidden issues.

Important: Not Every Accident Shows Up on a Report

Vehicle history tools are incredibly useful — but they’re not perfect. An accident may not appear on a report if it wasn’t reported to police, insurance, a dealership/service center, or a data provider. Some cars are repaired out of pocket or at shops that don’t share data.

That’s why the best strategy is a two-part check:

• Run history checks (free + paid) to look for major red flags.
• Get a mechanic inspection to catch repairs, frame issues, and hidden damage that may never appear in a database.

How VIN Checks Work

The most common way to research a vehicle’s past is to run a VIN check. A VIN is a unique identifier tied to a specific vehicle. When an insurer, DMV, salvage yard, police department, or reporting partner records an event tied to that VIN, it can show up in certain databases.

Depending on the service you use, a VIN check can reveal:

• Title brands (salvage, rebuilt, flood, junk, etc.)
• Total loss history (when reported to that database)
• Theft records
• Odometer issues (rollback/inconsistencies)
• Reported accidents and damage events (more common on paid reports)

How to Perform a VIN Check on Any Vehicle

Performing a VIN check is easier than ever. Here are the best options (starting with free tools), and what each one actually tells you.

1) NICB VINCheck (Free)

The National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) offers a free lookup tool at NICB.org. NICB VINCheck can help you see whether a vehicle has been reported as stolen (and not recovered) or reported as salvage by participating insurance companies.

This is a great first step — especially for catching big red flags — but it’s not a complete “accident history” report. It’s primarily focused on theft and salvage reporting, not every fender-bender.

You’re limited to 5 searches per 24 hours per IP address.

Start here: NICB VINCheck

2) NMVTIS Vehicle History Report (Official Title & Total Loss Data)

If you want an official source for title-related red flags, check NMVTIS (the National Motor Vehicle Title Information System). NMVTIS reports are designed to flag things like salvage/junk branding and total loss history (as reported to NMVTIS), which can be crucial when you’re trying to avoid unsafe or misrepresented vehicles.

NMVTIS reports are purchased through approved data providers (not directly from a dealership). Start here: Approved NMVTIS Data Providers

3) Carfax (Paid Vehicle History Report)

Carfax is one of the best-known vehicle history report providers. A Carfax report can include accident/damage events, title and registration history, odometer readings, service records, number of owners, and more — depending on what was reported.

Carfax reports aren’t free. Pricing changes, but a single report is commonly around $45, and multi-report bundles can reduce the per-report cost if you’re shopping multiple cars.

You can typically run Carfax using a VIN, and in many cases a license plate also works.

Start here: Carfax Vehicle History Reports

4) AutoCheck (Alternative to Carfax)

AutoCheck is a popular alternative history report provider. It can be worth comparing if you’re evaluating multiple used cars and want another data source. Some dealers prefer one provider over another, and one report may have information the other is missing.

5) Ask the Dealership or Seller for a Free Vehicle History Report

If you’re buying from a dealership, ask whether they’ll provide a free vehicle history report (Carfax or AutoCheck). Many dealers do this for transparency, especially for higher-priced used vehicles.

If the seller refuses to share any report and won’t let you run your own VIN checks, that’s a strong sign to be cautious.

Don’t Skip the Physical Inspection (It Can Catch “Unreported” Accidents)

A clean report does not guarantee a clean car. Before you buy, consider paying for a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic (especially for private-party sales).

Common signs a car may have been repaired after an accident include:

• Uneven panel gaps, misaligned doors/hood/trunk
• Overspray, mismatched paint, or “orange peel” texture
• New headlights or taillights on one side only
• Rust or fresh undercoating in odd places
• Airbag warning lights or evidence of airbag replacement (see: airbag deployment & totaling)

Understanding a Vehicle Identification Number (VIN)

Most vehicles built for model year 1981 and newer use a standardized 17-character VIN (letters and numbers). Vehicles older than that may have VINs in different formats and lengths.

You can typically find the VIN:

• On the lower driver-side corner of the windshield (viewable from outside)
• Inside the driver-side door jamb
• On your registration, insurance card, or title paperwork

A VIN isn’t random — it encodes details about the vehicle. For example, the 10th character typically indicates the model year, and other positions identify the manufacturer and vehicle attributes. If you’re curious about what your VIN means, you can decode it using NHTSA’s official VIN decoder.

Try it here: NHTSA VIN Decoder

You can also etch your VIN on the side of your window for lower insurance rates.

And if you’re researching a vehicle’s history, remember: VIN checks are most effective for spotting major red flags like salvage or theft records — and less reliable for minor accidents or repairs that were never officially reported.

FAQs on Checking a Car’s Accident History

Final Word: It’s Easy to Check a Car’s Accident History

Today, it’s easier than ever to check if a car has ever been in an accident — or at least whether it has the big warning signs you should never ignore.

Start with free tools like NICB VINCheck, use NMVTIS for official title/total loss history, and consider a paid report like Carfax if you want more detail. Then, protect yourself with a pre-purchase inspection to catch damage that may not appear on any report.