Accident History: What It Shows, What It Misses, How to Check
Accident history is the record of collisions a vehicle has been involved in, assembled from sources such as police reports, insurance claims, and repair-shop records. It is only as complete as what was reported: a crash settled privately or repaired for cash may leave no record at all.
By the CarWhere Research team · Updated November 2026
How it affects a buyer
A reported accident usually lowers a used car’s value, and the size of the discount depends on the severity — a minor bumper repair matters far less than structural damage or airbag deployment. Severity matters more than the mere presence of a record. The bigger risk for a buyer is the accident that never made it into any record: repairs paid in cash, at-fault damage the owner chose not to claim, or a car rebuilt after a salvage-auction sale. A “no accidents reported” result means none were reported, not that none happened.
How to check it
Use more than one source. Commercial vehicle history reports compile reported accidents; CarWhere’s reports do not carry accident records. If the car was ever totaled and sold through a salvage auction, the auction record shows the reported damage and often photos — the Used Car Report includes those salvage-auction records. Then have an independent mechanic or body shop inspect it: paint-thickness readings, panel gaps, overspray, replaced welds, and frame measurements reveal repairs that no database recorded.
Check it on a specific car
Frequently asked questions
Do all accidents show up on a car’s history?
No. Only accidents reported to a source a history provider receives — typically police reports, insurance claims, or participating repair shops — can appear. Privately settled or cash repairs often leave no record.
Is it OK to buy a car that’s been in an accident?
Often, if the damage was minor, repaired properly, and reflected in the price. Structural or frame damage and airbag deployments call for a professional inspection before you decide.