Is a vehicle history report enough to trust a used car's history?

Question

Every used car I see has a 'clean vehicle history' posted. But I've heard of cars with clean reports that had major accident damage. How reliable are they really? What might they miss?

Tom Wrenches · Accepted Answer

Vehicle history reports are useful but incomplete. They only show what's reported. Cash repairs at body shops may never appear. They also won't tell you about poor-quality repairs done properly enough to avoid salvage title. Always combine a history report with a physical inspection by a trusted mechanic.