Free Import Check
Check with CARFAX if your future used car has been imported.
Many used cars are imported from another country before being offered for sale. An import history check helps you understand where the vehicle came from and whether important parts of the car’s history may be recorded outside your local market.
Why should you check if a car was imported?
Imported vehicles can be good cars, but they may also come with missing information, unfamiliar registration records, or a history that is difficult to verify without the VIN.
A car that has been imported may have been used in another country, registered under different rules, or repaired before it entered the local market.
Checking the import history before purchase gives you a clearer picture of the vehicle and helps you ask the right questions before paying for it.
What can an import check tell you?
The CARFAX Vehicle History Report can help identify import-related information when available. This can support your decision by showing whether the vehicle has records from another country.
Import history should be reviewed together with accident records, mileage records, service history, ownership history and theft records.
When the seller says a vehicle is “clean,” the VIN check helps you confirm the available history instead of relying only on verbal information.
Imported used cars can hide important details
When a vehicle changes countries, its history can become harder to follow. Some buyers may not know where the car was originally registered or whether it had issues before import.
Checking the VIN helps connect available records from different sources and can reveal useful information before you make a purchase decision.
Check before you buy
Before buying an imported car, compare the VIN on the vehicle with the registration documents and make sure the seller’s information is consistent.
A CARFAX report gives you a better overview of the available vehicle history so you can make a safer and more informed decision.
Check in advance to avoid unpleasant surprises
Enter the VIN and check the available vehicle history before making your used car purchase decision.