Why it's always a good idea to use Ford VIN Decoder?
While you have many choices when selecting your next vehicle, you wouldn’t be wrong to consider purchasing a Ford vehicle. Ever since its founding on June 16, 1903, Ford has built a stellar reputation for manufacturing sleek, high-performing vehicles. Whether you are thinking of purchasing a Ford Explorer for your family or a Ford Mustang to take out on a bright sunny day, you are sure to find a vehicle that suits your needs and preferences.
That said, there are certain steps that you should take before purchasing your Ford vehicle—especially if it is used. All of these steps come down to one word: research. Purchasing any vehicle is an investment and you want to be well-prepared before signing on the dotted line. There is just one problem. When purchasing a used Ford vehicle, you are at an informational disadvantage compared to the seller. Relying on the seller’s narrative about the vehicle may cause you to overpay—even more so if the seller isn’t being entirely truthful.
This is where a Ford 17 digit VIN decoder comes in handy. By looking up the vehicle’s VIN number, you will be able to find objective, verifiable information about the vehicle, which can inform your decision about whether you want to purchase the vehicle (and at what price).
Ford VIN Lookup: The Basics
If you don’t yet know, a vehicle identification number (“VIN number”) is essentially a vehicle’s fingerprint. It is 17 digits and contains a mix of numbers and letters. The numbers and letters within those 17 digits identify things like a particular vehicle’s make, model, year, and where the vehicle was manufactured. For example, the first number of a vehicle’s VIN number represents the country where the vehicle was manufactured. The second is the vehicle’s manufacturer and the third is the vehicle type. While you do not need to memorize what each number and letter stands for, the bottom line is that every vehicle’s VIN number is unique.
If you are considering purchasing a Ford vehicle and are curious about this idea of a Ford VIN number lookup, there is an easy way to find the vehicle’s VIN number. In most vehicles, you will find the VIN number printed on the driver’s side of the dashboard. If you can’t find it there, it may also be on the driver’s side door jamb, in front of the engine block, or even in the trunk.
As we will explain below, this allows you to obtain an objective, unbiased look at the Ford vehicle’s history. But having said this, a vehicle’s VIN number is useful in other situations. For example, a VIN number can be used to identify your vehicle if it is ever stolen. If your vehicle needs repairs at a dealership or a body shop, the auto technicians will use your vehicle’s VIN number to track your vehicle and determine the specific types of parts that you may need. There are many other applications, but the bottom line is that a vehicle’s VIN number, regardless of the manufacturer, is a key component of any vehicle.
Available Data
Once you have the vehicle’s VIN number, you’ll next want to proceed to the fun part: the Ford VIN number lookup. With your vehicle’s VIN number, you can obtain some unique insights into the history and current condition of the Ford vehicle. Some of the more basic information that you can find includes the vehicle’s state of title, mileage, type of record, and the VIN number reported at the time of the report.
The really exciting part, however, comes when you can obtain some of the more granular information about the vehicle. With a Ford 17 digit VIN decoder, you can see whether the odometer of the vehicle has been rolled back. If there has been any damage to the odometer or if the odometer has exceeded its limits due to the vehicle’s make and model, you will also be able to tell. The Ford VIN lookup can notify you if the vehicle has suffered any water or frame damage. It can even tell you whether the vehicle has been deemed a “lemon” from the available historical data.
You may be wondering where all of this data comes from. The key is that each vehicle’s VIN number is unique. From there, a Ford 17 digit VIN decoder scans through a wide range of public records to determine whether the vehicle’s VIN number appears. If it does, that appearance is noted in a comprehensive report of the vehicle’s history.
Potential Applications
You can imagine how all of this information is vital when you are thinking of purchasing a used Ford vehicle. A simple example can be helpful. Let’s say that you are thinking of purchasing a Ford F-150 truck. Instead of going to a dealership, however, you try to get a better deal by finding an F-150 being sold on a platform like Craigslist. Once you find an F-150 that sounds interesting, you meet the seller and inspect the vehicle.
Without a Ford VIN number lookup, you would have to trust the seller’s description of the vehicle’s history. While the seller may not necessarily be lying outright, he or she may omit certain key facts (like any prior water or frame damage) that could significantly affect the vehicle’s price. Relying on the seller’s representations, you may drastically overpay for the vehicle. Even beyond that, you may have to make costly repairs shortly after you purchase the F-150.
By contrast, with a Ford 17 digit VIN decoder, you can remove some of the seller’s informational advantages. You can pull up a decoder on your phone or at your home computer and obtain a detailed look at the F-150’s history. With that information in hand, you can immediately return to the seller and ask him or her to explain a particular moment in the vehicle’s history. The explanation may be benign or it may signal that the seller was trying to hide something from you. Whatever the case may be, you can use the information obtained from a Ford VIN lookup to further negotiate the price of the F-150 or walk away entirely. The choice is yours.
The Value of Ford VIN Number Lookup
While the above case study is just one example, it is clear that a Ford 17 digit VIN decoder can level the playing field when you are purchasing a Ford vehicle. Whether you are buying a new or used Ford vehicle, it is absolutely worth your time to look up the vehicle’s VIN number before making your final decision.
There are really no bad scenarios here. One of the better scenarios is that you look up the Ford vehicle’s VIN number and find nothing wrong. But arguably a better scenario is that you find hidden problems with the vehicle and choose to walk away. You eliminate the financial damage and headaches that you could have experienced by purchasing the vehicle.
Ultimately, we encourage you to take the time and execute a Ford VIN number lookup before purchasing your dream Ford vehicle. Not only can it give you peace of mind, but in some circumstances, it can save you thousands (or even tens of thousands) of dollars.
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How many Ford cars are sold in US?
There is no definitive answer to this question as it can vary greatly from year to year. However, in general, Ford tends to sell around 2 million cars in the US market each year. This puts them towards the top of the list in terms of overall sales volume.
How reliable are Ford cars?
Ford cars are generally very reliable. In fact, they are often ranked as one of the most reliable brands on the market. This is especially true for their more recent models. However, like with any brand, there will always be a few lemons here and there. Overall, though, Ford cars are very dependable.
Buying a pre-used Ford car - what to check?
If you are considering buying a pre-used Ford car, there are a few things you will want to check. First, make sure to get a complete history of the vehicle. This should include all maintenance and repair records. You will also want to take the car for a test drive to see how it handles and to look for any potential problems. Finally, make sure to decode the VIN number and have a qualified mechanic inspect the car to check for any major issues.