| There's something extremely exciting about | | | | insurance company you talk to. They're going to |
| getting a great deal on a used car. You know | | | | tell you that your car's previous owner's driving |
| you're getting a great set of wheels that's already | | | | history is absolutely none of your business-and in |
| got some miles under the hood, which means it's | | | | a way they'd be right. After all, getting ahold of |
| not a dealer lemon, and isn't wearing a new car | | | | your car's history also lets you know exactly |
| price tag, which means it's going to be a big boost | | | | what kind of driver their previous owner used to |
| to your budget during these terse economic | | | | be. That's considered an invasion of privacy, since |
| times. That doesn't mean you want to walk into | | | | there's a chance you don't even know these |
| the deal blind, however. A car with a good history | | | | people and even if you did they probably wouldn't |
| could have some dark spots in its history just as | | | | want you having unlimited access to their past |
| easily, and the last thing you want to do is take | | | | foibles! |
| the dealership's word for it that your car is still | | | | That doesn't help you out, however. The good |
| untouched. | | | | news is, there's someone who can. |
| It makes sense that the first place you would go | | | | Have you ever heard of CARFAX? When you |
| would be the car insurance company that was | | | | need to know anything about your car you can |
| insuring your car in the first place. After all, a | | | | turn to CARFAX. They'll give you a report free of |
| history of car insurance claims would provide a | | | | charge through their website just using your car's |
| nice, clean trail to let you know what your car's | | | | VIN. And since you can access the CARFAX |
| been up to the past few years-and help you | | | | website from anywhere that has an Internet |
| quickly identify any trouble spots that might pop | | | | connection, including your Blackberry, there's no |
| up in the future. After all, unless it's done right a | | | | reason you shouldn't be able to either get the |
| rebuilt engine or transmission is nothing but a | | | | report yourself or have one printed out by the |
| ticking time bomb, as anyone that's ever had the | | | | dealership. If they try and come up with any |
| misfortune to have to deal with knows all too well! | | | | reason you shouldn't, walk away. There's |
| Knowing these things ahead of time can go a long | | | | something fishy going on, and your wallet will |
| way toward saving you a world of heartache. | | | | thank you in the long run. |
| Unfortunately, it doesn't really matter what car | | | | Even if it does cost you a little more right now. |