The VIN check is the only clear way to be sure that the used vehicle you are considering buying has a clean history. Otherwise, you are simply taking the word of the person selling the car to you. If you're buying it from a family member or close friend, you can probably assume they are being honest...but a dealer, neighbor or someone you found in the newspaper, they might not tell you the whole story.

That's where the VIN Check comes into play. Every car on the road has a unique Vehicle Identification Number, a 17-character alphanumeric sequence that identifies that particular vehicle. Obtaining that ID from the seller is a crucial part of the used car buying process.

Once you have this information, you can perform a free VIN Number Check to reveal valuable data on that particular car, including the true year, make and model. That way you can tell right away if it is in fact the year that the seller claims. If he or she tells you it is a 2004 model, but the free VIN check reveals it is in fact a 2002, then you know to move on as there are probably other details the seller isn't sharing with you.

Once you have the basic information, you can go ahead and order a complete vehicle history report, which usually costs around $19.99 for one VIN Number Check, and $24.99 for unlimited reports for up to 60 days. So you can check as many VINs as you'd like until you find the perfect used car.

The full vehicle history report will reveal hidden problems such as major damage, odometer tampering, ownership transfers, DMV transactions and much more. This will give you the entire picture, so you'll know exactly what you are buying. For the cost of a small meal for two, you can avoid purchasing a problem vehicle which could end up costing thousands in repairs. As such it is well worth getting the full report after your initial VIN check.

Buying a used car can be a trying process, as it often takes some time before you find the vehicle that is perfect for you and your family. To make the process easier, make sure you perform a VIN check on each and every car you are considering. Don't end up buying a lemon!