Comparison
VIN history reports – which service to choose for a car from the USA or Europe
We compared the most popular vehicle history report services: data coverage, US damage and title information, photos from earlier listings and prices. At the end – how to choose a report for a specific car.
Prices and coverage checked: oktober 2026. Prices are indicative and may change.
Car from a US auction
AutoCheck or Carfax
The deepest US data: damage, titles, auction and service history.
Car bought in Europe
carVertical or autoDNA
Data from many EU countries, report in your language.
Quick, cheap check
VinAudit
Official NMVTIS title and total-loss data for a few dollars.
- 2020-03
First registration – Florida
- 2022-08
Odometer reading: 28,400 mi
- 2023-09
Damage: front end, airbags deployed
- 2023-10
Title changed to SALVAGE
- 2023-11
Auction – 3 photos before repair
At a glance
| Service | Data coverage | US titles and total losses | Photos from history | Report price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| carVertical | EU, USA | yes | sometimes | ≈ 28–30 EUR |
| autoDNA | EU, USA | yes | sometimes | ≈ 20–25 EUR |
| Carfax | USA, Kanada | yes | no | ≈ 45 USD |
| AutoCheck | USA | yes | no | ≈ 30 USD |
| VinAudit | USA | yes | no | ≈ 10 USD |
| Automano | USA | no independent data | no independent data | ≈ 7 USD |
“Sometimes” – photos appear when the service has them (e.g. from earlier listings or auctions). Coverage depends on the specific VIN.
Services one by one
carVertical
EU, USA · ≈ 28–30 EUR
A Lithuanian service operating in many European countries and in the USA. It claims over 1,000 data sources – registries, insurers, workshops, police. For US cars it shows title brands such as salvage, rebuilt and junk.
Pros
- European and US data in one report.
- Report and support in many EU languages.
- Photos from history when available.
Cons
- More expensive than US budget services.
- Less US data than Carfax or AutoCheck.
Best for: buyers in Europe who want one report for a car from the USA or the EU.
autoDNA
EU, USA · ≈ 20–25 EUR
A Polish service, strongest in Poland and Central and Eastern Europe. Its database covers dozens of countries in Europe and North America; reports include mileage, damage and – when available – photos.
Pros
- Very good data from Poland and the region.
- Cheaper than carVertical, multi-report bundles.
- Free preliminary check whether data exists.
Cons
- Less Western European data than competitors.
- For US cars, add a US source as well.
Best for: cars from Poland and neighbouring countries, and as a second source.
Carfax
USA, Kanada · ≈ 45 USD
The best-known service in the USA. It has broad access to insurer, police and workshop records, so it shows accidents and service history best.
Pros
- The deepest US accident and service history.
- Recognised by buyers at resale.
Cons
- The most expensive single report.
- Weak for cars from outside the USA and Canada.
Best for: more expensive US cars where service history matters.
AutoCheck
USA · ≈ 30 USD
A service owned by Experian. Particularly strong on auction history – used by dealers and auction houses. It also gives an AutoCheck Score.
Pros
- Very good US auction data.
- Cheaper than Carfax.
Cons
- Fewer service details than Carfax.
- US cars only.
Best for: cars from Copart and IAAI auctions.
VinAudit
USA · ≈ 10 USD
An officially approved data provider for the government NMVTIS database. It shows title brands, total losses, odometer readings and theft records.
Pros
- Very cheap, bundles even cheaper.
- Official NMVTIS title and total-loss data.
Cons
- Few details on minor accidents and servicing.
- No photos.
Best for: a quick first check of many cars before bidding.
Automano
USA · ≈ 7 USD
A new low-cost VIN report service. We have not yet found independent reviews or a detailed description of its data sources – treat it as a cheap first check.
Pros
- Low report price.
Cons
- Few independent reviews.
- Data sources not disclosed.
Best for: a cheap first check – for a more expensive car, also order a report from a better-known service.
Partner link – Carglo may earn a commission. It does not affect our calculations.
How we compared
We reviewed the services’ descriptions and price lists as well as independent comparisons from October 2026. We focused on what matters most when importing a car: where the data comes from, whether the report shows US titles and total losses, whether it includes photos from history and how much a single report costs.
We did not test the reports on the same VINs – coverage depends on the specific car, so for a more expensive car it is worth ordering two reports from different services.
What you can check for free
Before paying for a report, check for free:
- NICB VINCheck – whether the car was reported stolen or a total loss (USA).
- NHTSA Recalls – open recalls for the VIN.
- MOT history on gov.uk – for cars from the UK.
- unofficial Copart and IAAI auction archives – sometimes show photos and the price from an earlier sale; they are not affiliated with the auctions and may disappear.
Our free VIN decoder also reads the make, model, year, engine and country of manufacture.
How to read a report
- Compare mileage readings over the years – a drop means a rolled-back odometer.
- Look for title brands: salvage, rebuilt, flood, junk.
- Note the registration states – cars from Florida, Texas and Louisiana more often have flood damage.
- Several auctions in a short time suggest the car was hard to sell.
- No record does not mean no damage – a report only shows what was reported.
Which report to choose
- Car from a US auction (Copart, IAAI): first the free NICB and the cheap VinAudit, then AutoCheck or Carfax before bidding on a more expensive car.
- Car from the USA when you want one report in your language: carVertical.
- Car from Poland or neighbouring countries: autoDNA, with carVertical as a second source.
- Car from the UK: free MOT history plus a report from a European service.
For a car worth tens of thousands, two reports from different services cost a fraction of a possible loss.
Frequently asked questions
›Which VIN report is best for a car from the USA?
For a car from a US auction, AutoCheck (auction history) and Carfax (accidents and servicing) give the most data. For a quick title and total-loss check, the cheaper VinAudit is enough.
›Does carVertical check cars from the USA?
Yes – according to the service, the report includes US title brands (salvage, rebuilt, junk). Its US coverage is, however, smaller than that of US services.
›autoDNA or carVertical – which is better?
autoDNA is stronger in Poland and Central and Eastern Europe and usually cheaper; carVertical has wider coverage in Western Europe and the USA. For a more expensive car, check both.
›Will a report show photos from a Copart auction?
Sometimes – some reports include photos from earlier listings when the service has them. No service guarantees it. Save the photos of the current auction yourself, because the page disappears after the sale.
›Is a free VIN report enough?
Free databases (NICB, NHTSA) show theft, total loss and recalls, but not the full accident and mileage history. A paid report is usually needed before deciding to buy.
›Do you earn from these links?
For some services, yes – such links are marked as partner links. This does not affect what we recommend: the ranking is based on data coverage, not commission.
Carglo is not affiliated with the services described. Names belong to their owners. Prices and coverage come from the services’ descriptions and comparisons from October 2026 – check the current offer before buying.