Importing a Car from the USA? Check the VIN and Auction History First
Many US export cars come straight from damage auctions. Enter the 17-character VIN below for a free preview of its US record — salvage-auction sale records with damage photos, theft records, an odometer timeline, and available US listing and price records back to 2015 (coverage varies by VIN) — before you bid at a US auction or wire money to an exporter.
The $12.99 Used Car Report — made for US-auction imports
One-time, works worldwide (billed in USD): salvage-auction sale records with damage photos where the auction published them, reported salvage records, theft records, an odometer timeline, and the VIN's available US listing & price records back to 2015 (coverage varies by VIN). No subscription. See a sample report
Need the federal record instead (recalls, complaints, original window sticker)? That's the $9.99 Full VIN Report.
What you can check by VIN
| Record | Source | Scope | In report |
|---|---|---|---|
| VIN specifications | NHTSA vPIC | Exact vehicle | ✓ Free preview |
| Salvage-auction sale records + damage photos | Licensed vehicle-data providers | VIN-specific | ✓ Used Car Report |
| Reported salvage records | Licensed vehicle-data providers | VIN-specific | ✓ Used Car Report |
| Theft records | Licensed theft-record data | VIN-specific | ✓ Used Car Report |
| Odometer timeline | Licensed vehicle-data providers | VIN-specific | ✓ Used Car Report |
| Title status at auction sale (e.g. salvage title) | Licensed vehicle-data providers | VIN-specific | ✓ Used Car Report |
| Online listing & price history (since 2015) | CarWhere tracked sources | VIN-specific | ✓ Used Car Report |
| Open recalls | NHTSA | VIN-specific where available | ✓ Full VIN Report |
| Owner complaints | NHTSA | Model (year/make/model) | ✓ Full VIN Report |
| Service bulletins | NHTSA / manufacturer | Model (year/make/model) | ✓ Full VIN Report |
| Factory window sticker | Manufacturer | VIN-specific where available | ✓ Full VIN Report |
| NMVTIS state-by-state title-brand history | NMVTIS provider | VIN-specific | — Not included |
| Accident & ownership history | Third-party provider | VIN-specific | — Not included |
Sources & limitations: decode via NHTSA vPIC; recalls/complaints/bulletins via NHTSA; title/salvage/flood via an approved NMVTIS provider (not included here); auction, salvage, theft, odometer, and listing records via licensed vehicle-data providers. Reporting can lag real-world events — the absence of a record is not proof of no damage. NHTSA complaints and bulletins are associated with the decoded year/make/model and do not prove the individual VIN experienced the issue. Reviewed by Sam Reynolds, Lead Researcher, CarWhere — October 2026.
FAQ
What should I check before importing a car from the USA?
Three things: (1) what happened to the car in America — salvage-auction sale records with damage photos where the auction published them, reported salvage records, theft records, an odometer timeline, and the VIN's available US listing and price records (all in the CarWhere Used Car Report); (2) the federal safety record — VIN-specific open recalls plus model-level owner complaints and manufacturer service bulletins from NHTSA; (3) the original factory configuration — for 12 brands CarWhere retrieves the original window sticker (Monroney), which proves trim, options, and original MSRP for the exact VIN. Title brands (salvage/flood) live in the US federal NMVTIS system, checked through an approved NMVTIS provider — not included in CarWhere reports, so verify the title brand through NMVTIS before you commit.
Do US recalls matter for an imported car?
Yes — an open US recall usually means the defect exists in your car regardless of where it ends up, and manufacturer recall repairs may not transfer easily across borders. Check open campaigns by VIN before purchase, and ask whether repairs were completed (a dealer can verify by VIN).
What is a window sticker and why does it matter for imports?
The Monroney label is the US federal price-and-equipment sticker every new car is sold with. For an exported vehicle it is the definitive proof of original trim, factory options, drivetrain, and MSRP — protection against sellers misdescribing a base car as a loaded one. CarWhere retrieves original manufacturer stickers for Chevrolet, GMC, Buick, Cadillac, Ford, Lincoln, Jeep, Ram, Dodge, Chrysler, Hyundai, and Genesis.
Which CarWhere report should an import buyer get?
For "what happened to this car in America" — the question that matters most when buying a US auction car — get the CarWhere Used Car Report: salvage-auction sale records with damage photos where the auction published them, reported salvage records, theft records, an odometer timeline with rollback flagging, and the VIN's available US listing and price records back to 2015 — coverage varies by VIN. The $9.99 Full VIN Report covers the federal record instead: full decode, open recalls, owner complaints, service bulletins, the original window sticker where available, and US market price context. Both are one-time USD purchases available worldwide, no subscription. Neither includes NMVTIS title/salvage/flood brands or accident and ownership history.
Importing to a specific country
Duty, VAT, inspection, and registration rules vary by destination — pick yours for the country-specific checklist, then decode the US VIN before you bid.