Finding information on vehicles might seem difficult but there are many different places to go for help. On the internet, many websites have searchable databases for an assortment of different vehicle questions.
At Freeprf.com there are varieties of links to searching for information on vehicles. For starters, there is CAPA Certified Parts Search. The Certified Automotive Parts Association (CAPA) is a non-profit organization that certifies the quality of automotive parts used for collision repairs through a testing program. But it is also handy for just searching body parts for vehicles. This website allows users to search for vehicle parts that are certified, decertified, or deleted. Searches can be done by make of vehicle, model, and year. From there the search is narrowed to manufacture and part. Each vehicle comes with its own part number, no matter where in the car you look there is a number identifying that part.
Another helpful site is CARFAX, which gives detailed reports on used cars. The report includes things like severe accident, flooded, odometer problems, number of owners, mileage, rental, fleet, total loss, frame damage, airbags deployed, and service records. Searches are free and start with the VIN of the vehicle, which can be found on the dashboard of the car.
There is also NHTSA, established in 1970; this government agency directs highway safety and consumer programs. At there website, Safercar.gov a search engine is available for consumers to view safety-related complaints about motor vehicles and motor vehicle equipment by make, model and year. Searches can be done by ODI number, and then narrowed down for vehicle, equipment, tires, or child restraint.
For consumers who want to check to see if a vehicle has been reported stolen, there is also the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) at www.nicb.org. This website's search engine gives users the opportunity to search for a vehicle using the VIN number to see if it's reported stolen. A maximum of five VINCheck searches can be done within a 24-hour period.
The website Analogx.com is a free online VIN decoder that allows you to see the information about your vehicle. VIN View supports decoding of any vehicle identification number that was issued after 1978, which is when ISO 3779 was established to make a uniform way to track vehicles. A VIN number search will reveal things like region, country, manufacturer, model specific, check digit, year, assembly plant, and serial number.
In addition, there is Lovefords.org, which looks up information on Ford, Mercury, Edsels, and Lincolns from 1960 to 1980. The website will show the position #1-year, position #2-plant assembly, position #3-body series and position #4 Engine ID by matching them to the VIN number.
At the website, nhtsa.gov consumers can search for vehicle salvage information. Vehicles subjected to destructive testing, starting with model year 1996; are sold when these vehicles are not needed for evaluation purposes. These vehicles used for the destructive testing are sold for "salvage" only, because of the nature of those tests. The transfer document has the restriction that the vehicle is not to be titled for use on the road. Searches can be done from the model and beginning VIN number of the vehicle.
The internet provides a wide variety of searchable data on cars, planes and boats it is just a matter of knowing where to look for the information. However, if you are looking for DMV records for vehicles owned, license plate or driver's license information, those records are not available to the general public. DMV records are obtainable by licensed private investigators, attorneys, insurance brokers and a variety of other business entities that have a specific legititate purpose to obtain those records.
CAPA Certified Vehicle Part Search The Certified Automotive Parts Association (CAPA) develops and oversees test programs guaranteeing the suitability and quality of automotive parts.
Stolen Vehicle Check NICB's VINCheck is a service provided to the public to assist in determining if a vehicle has been reported as stolen, but not recovered, or has been reported as a salvage vehicle by cooperating NICB members.
