Old cars don’t die, they just get resold. If you’re buying a used car, whether from a dealer or someone who put an ad in the paper, you’ll want to know as much about it as you can. Even without anyone trying to deceive you, the vehicle may have problems you can’t see from a simple visual inspection or a short test drive.

A vehicle history report prepared by a third party is one way to know what you’re getting. Combining information from the state DMV and RMV as well as police reports and other sources, a vehicle history report can give you a comprehensive overview of where a car’s been.

Here are some things to look for - or look out for - when you get a report on the vehicle. None of these things is necessarily a reason to not buy a car, but you shouldn’t make a decision without asking about anything you see on a vehicle’s history.

• Many owners. The more garages a car’s been in, the less likely it’s been lovingly cared for all its life. Not everyone is as diligent about car care as you are. Rental cars and former taxis, for example, will often have undergone a lot of abuse, although they tend to be quite inexpensive.
• Location, location, location. Some parts of the country are more car-friendly than others. Obviously, areas prone to flooding can be rough on cars, as can winter storms (with their accompanying salty roads) - but excessive heat or even sea air can be damaging as well. Cars that have been where these conditions are common may have hidden damage.
• Name and description. Be sure the car in the report is the same as the car you’re looking at. Carefully reviewing the vehicle description is one way to avoid various types of vehicle fraud, like VIN cloning. A cloned vehicle involves using a VIN from a legally owned, non-stolen vehicle to mask the identity of a stolen similar vehicle. CARFAX reports include detailed descriptions of the vehicle, so you can make sure the car you’re reading about is the same as the one you’re looking at.
• Suspicious markings. Keep an eye out for records of body work that might indicate a prior unreported incident.

Vehicle history reports from CARFAX are the most comprehensive available. The company’s database contains more than 8 billion records from thousands of public and private sources, including all DMVs in the U.S. and Canada, vehicle inspection stations, auto auctions, fleet management and rental agencies, automobile manufacturers, and fire and police departments.