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How do I find old car insurance records for a car I'm purchasing?
I'm buying a car from a private seller and I want to know if the car has had any insurance claims filed against it. I've never bought from a private seller before, and I'm not really sure where to start looking—so how can I find an old car's insurance records?
Eric Schad · Updated on
Reviewed by Shannon Martin, Licensed Insurance Agent.
“Looking up the old records is a smart call!
The easiest way to see if a previous owner of your vehicle filed an insurance claim is to buy a vehicle history report such as
a CarFax report
. This report will show if the vehicle had any accidents or insurance claims.If that doesn’t work, you can also call the DMV, which may be able to provide prior insurance history if you have the vehicle identification number (VIN).
Finally, you can ask the seller if they have that information. If they’re apprehensive or hesitant, it’s a red flag, and you may want to rethink purchasing the vehicle.
If you do go through with the sale and it turns out that the car does have insurance claims filed against it, getting affordable coverage might be a hassle. One stress-free way to find the best deal on the car insurance you need is to use
Jerry
—we’ll get you multiple quotes from different top-of-the-line providers so that you can make sure you’re getting the best price for your coverage!Best of luck with the record search, and with the purchase!”
View full answer
- Gregory R.
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Jerry partners with more than 50 insurance companies, but our content is independently researched, written, and fact-checked by our team of editors and agents. We aren’t paid for reviews or other content.
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