Vin Numbers?

[DosuGTR]

Whats the best/cheapest site to check out an r32/r33 vin? does programs like carfax work or is that just for usa owned cars? the ones i want to check out were never driven outside of japan(yet)

[kakimoto33]

What were you trying to find out exactly? (specs or details of the car, build date, accident history, finance owing, etc?) ... some of these things are not possible to find out in the same way as they do in the US, others are quite easy if you have the correct details and/or know how to check?

[DosuGTR]

Yeah mostly accident history and oil changes/maintenance and such

[kakimoto33]

Unfortunately there is no central register of accident repairs or servicing in Japan, so for this sort of information you just have to trust the seller. Obviously some cars will come with service books so that's a good start but make sure you trust the seller as some dodgy exporters will buy blank service books and fill them out then wind back the mileage to appear genuine. As a general rule the Japanese are quite honest and a normal Japanese individual seller will tell you honestly about any accident repairs in most cases, the auction houses will be as honest as possible although sometimes mistakes are made, and it's normally the non-Japanese agents who go there to purchase and export cars who are the ones that do dodgy things and misrepresent cars.

With all of that said, just buy from a good trusted source and get heaps of additional information and/or photos until you are happy with the condition of the car - don't let anyone pressure you into buying before you are comfortable and ask any questions that you have so all of your doubts are answered and you should be good.

If there is a specific car that you are looking at then I might be able to check the information and do a quick history search for you if that would help? .. feel free to private message if you prefer not to make the details public.

[deanoss]

Yeah mostly accident history and oil changes/maintenance and such