Free pre-purchase tool

Six checks before money moves.

A quick educational screen for imported vehicles. Answer only what your evidence can support—we’ll show where follow-up is needed.

✓01The VIN is identical across every supplied documentCompare all 17 characters, including the chassis stamp.✓02The seller matches the registered ownerOtherwise, obtain a valid power of attorney or sale authority.✓03Finance or lien clearance is documentedA payment receipt alone does not establish finance clearance.✓04The export certificate is present and currentRequirements vary by origin and destination jurisdiction.✓05An independent physical inspection was completedThe physical VIN should be compared with the paperwork.✓06Vehicle history sources were checkedRecord the source, date, coverage and result of every search.

Your evidence follow-up plan

VIN consistency
Compare the physical VIN with every document. Record each mismatch rather than correcting the record yourself.
Seller authority
Request the ownership record and evidence linking the seller to the person entitled to sell. Verify that authority with the relevant issuer.
Finance clearance
Request clearance evidence from the lender or relevant authority. Record what it covers and when it was checked.
Export paperwork
Identify the origin and destination requirements, then check the document issuer, vehicle identity and validity.
Independent inspection
Arrange an independent physical inspection and ask the inspector to record the VIN and any limitations.
History-source coverage
Record each source, search date, countries covered, result and exclusions. No match is not proof of a clean history.

Example: five ticks, one decisive gap

Imagine the VIN, export paperwork, finance evidence, inspection and history checks are recorded, but the seller differs from the ownership record. The count is five of six. It does not resolve the seller's authority. Record the discrepancy and obtain issuer-confirmed evidence connecting the seller to the transaction before treating that area as reviewed.

Keep a useful evidence record

For each item record: the question, issuing organization, reference, date checked, what the source actually confirms, and what remains unknown. Do not paste sensitive vehicle or identity documents into this checker. Answers stay in this page and clear on reload.

Seller authority guide · History-check coverage and limitations

VCC meaning and fictional worked review · VIN mismatch explanation

Method updated October 12, 2026. This tool performs no registry lookups and authenticates no documents. It organizes questions for independent follow-up.