Opinion about CarVertical we check the vehicle history by VIN or registration plate.

When buying a used vehicle, it's worth knowing its history. There are numerous services operating in the global market that offer such services, but as is usually the case, not all are equally effective. Today, we will focus on one of them - CarVertical, a Lithuanian portal that verifies vehicle history and has recently started offering checks based on registration plates (the availability of the service depends on the country).

We divided the text into 3 parts: in the first, we discuss the company and sections of the report. In the second, a specific example based on my 2009 Renault Scenic. The third part is the history of the motorcycle, checking what Carvertical already knows about my BMW F850GS ADV. The text is quite lengthy but we thoroughly examined the offer of CarVertical and I can confidently say this is the best company review you will find online. Use the table of contents at the top of the page to smoothly jump between topics.

VIN number of the vehicle - the key to the past?

The VIN number is something like an identity card for a vehicle. These 17 characters hide basic data about the vehicle, such as make, model, year of production, but also many additional pieces of information that can give us insight into the vehicle's history. It is located on the nameplate and is hidden in several places on the vehicle, on a motorcycle for example, at the front between the forks. More about what VIN is and where to find it.

Where you will find VIN on a motorcycle

In fact, you don't even have to approach the car; just check the registration document - the VIN is recorded under position E.

Opinion on CarVertical - good marketing or reliable data?

CarVertical gained fame due to its promotional scale, but that doesn't always go hand in hand with service quality. CarVertical is a portal that certainly knows how to attract customer attention. But does it really provide reliable information about the vehicle history that you are interested in? We answer this question below.

What can you find (or not) in the CarVertical report?

First of all, I notice the modern design of the CarVertical website. The navigation on the site is easy and pleasant; the site is visually appealing. It is available on desktop, mobile, and tablet.

When we enter the VIN number on the CarVertical site, we encounter the first element of the company's marketing strategy. The Lithuanian service claims to check certain information, but this does not guarantee that the ordered report will contain that data, which is worth noting. Therefore, it is advisable to exercise caution. The list of potential information that may but it is worth emphasizing, may not necessarily appear in the report:

• data on possible damages
• information about odometer rollback
• archival photographs
• number of previous owners
• information about thefts
• most common defects
• other useful data

Besides the site, the reports themselves also have a nice clear appearance, both on the mobile version and the one on the computer.

How much does the vehicle history report cost?

There is one price here that can be reduced with a larger purchase; you will probably want to check more than one car before deciding to purchase. For one report, you will pay 24.99 eur (price as of 03.03.2025)

The company informs us what we can gain by deciding on a report:

• Get information about previous owners, accidents, thefts, and odometer records
• Find out what the vehicle looked like in the past by obtaining its photos
• Review documentation regarding vehicle maintenance and service history

Note: This does not mean that this information will actually be in the CarVertical report.

If you decide to purchase two reports, the unit price drops to 15.99 eur (total 31.98 eur), it is apparent that it begins to make sense to take two reports for only 6 eur more.

When purchasing three reports, the unit cost drops slightly to 12.99 eur (total for 3 = 38.97 eur)

I choose 2 reports, because I still have one KTM to check for comparison and move on.

Available payment methods on carvertical.com

Interestingly, I am purchasing a report from the editorial office in Warsaw. I could make the purchase without paying VAT; I don't pay it, or does CarVertical? Probably both. Changing the country to Poland adds the mentioned tax to the price, and our cost increases.

We have almost all available payment methods on the market: blik, fast online transfers, card, PayPal, and even the option to pay with cryptocurrency. Here you should know that CarVertical has its own cryptocurrency and using it gives you an additional 30% discount.

CarVertical Report - overview of all sections

Here you can see a sample CarVertical report

At the beginning, we see the VIN number of the checked vehicle and that's basically all; the tiles regarding theft, odometer readings, and accidents, that is what is available for the checked vehicle.

The CarVertical vehicle history report is divided into readable sections available from the upper menu, and we have information about:

• overview - summary of the checked vehicle
• photos
• usage (rental, taxi, driving school, etc.)
• thefts
• odometer status
• financial and legal status
• damages
• specifications and equipment
• timeline

Let's discuss them one by one.

Vehicle Usage

This section refers to the vehicle's usage, and at first glance, everything seems to be in order - the report does not provide any alarming information. Nevertheless, the question arises - is the actual state like this, or does CarVertical simply not have the relevant data? Why do I start to wonder? Because the motorcycle I am checking is located in Poland, and the categories "Was imported" and "Was exported" do not contain any data...

Stolen / Not Stolen - CarVertical checks data from 31 countries

The next section of the report concerning this model is the stolen vehicle database; CarVertical checks databases from 31 countries. As you can see, such a report has its advantages; it would be difficult to find all this information on your own online, and at least it would be very time-consuming.

Odometer Status

Here CarVertical misses a point that it wants to use for marketing. There's a pretty graph of mileage, but it has nothing to do with the actual odometer reading. The company fine prints informs us that this is an estimated mileage. There is no data on the actual mileage. The mileage may be 33,224 km.

Financial and Legal Status

The name is quite inventive and may be misleading. It simply refers to whether the checked car/motorcycle, according to CarVertical data, has passed the last technical inspections. As far as I know, without purchasing data from the Court, we cannot determine whether the checked vehicle has unpaid credit obligations. CV claims that it has this data in its reports. Let us know if you encountered such data when buying a CarVertical report.

Damages - finally some data

Here we have two records presented with a nice visualization of the motorcycle showing us where the damage occurred and how much it cost, a point for the Lithuanians.

It is indeed worth purchasing a report for such information. Damages totaling from 1500 - 3000 euros and then 5 - 10 thousand euros disqualify the purchase of the checked motorcycle.

Specifications and Equipment

This is nothing more than basic data about the checked vehicle.

Timeline in the CV report

Here we will find a summary of what happened with the checked vehicle. We have data regarding registrations, mileages, and damages. A concise summary in table form of what was above.

We also have the option to download the report in one yellow (I respect the color scheme). The PDF report is readable and contains all information from the website.

I check the car on CarVertical - how does the Renault Scenic fare?

The new report design is appealing, navigation is simple and hassle-free, and the report can be downloaded in PDF format. It immediately stands out with clear tiles that serve as a summary of the entire report from CarVertical, allowing us to know where to pay attention. In the case of my Scenic, the damage is marked with a yellow triangle; something has been done, which I suspected when buying it. The rest is green.

AI-Generated Description

What would a modern vehicle history report be without artificial intelligence? I have the impression that 2023 has accustomed us to declension of AI in all cases. And it is the same this time, the note that states it was generated by AI informs us to not get too attached to the quality of the generated text. However, here it is quite good; the text fits the checked vehicle.

Photos in VIN history reports

Photos are usually taken from advertisements selling a given vehicle. It is the same in this case, but we have a significant advantage over manually searching for the history of the dream car. Everything is in one place. I see these photos that were in the sales advertisement on Otomoto a few years ago. Besides that, not much; I know that the car was imported from Belgium, but its past there is hidden even in the report.

Stolen Vehicle Databases

As we discussed earlier, 31 databases of stolen vehicles have been checked. The mentioned Renault Scenic does not appear in any of them.

Odometer Rollback is Still a Plague - It's Worth Checking

We have a very nice graph summarizing what the historical mileage of my car looks like. It shows that nothing alarming has happened in it. If we are interested in a more detailed graph, we can expand it and smoothly scroll sideways. Good job.

Technical Inspections

Here we do not have too much information; although the data is taken from CEPiK, there is no historical data, and I know that I didn't pass the inspection once - I didn't remove the old sticker from the window and got penalized for it. Nevertheless, it's good that there is information about the last inspection and its status.

Damage Records in the CarVertical Report

Just as I suspected, while checking the car there were probably discrepancies, and the report showed us that. Fortunately, the damages or costs, whatever you call them, were minor.

Technical Data and Equipment

In the first section, you can see basic information about the checked vehicle: make, model, year of production, and engine. In sum, you know all this when buying a car. The second is more interesting and presents detailed equipment of the checked car. This is even more important because you will see if it had factory fog lights, cruise control, etc. What if it is not there at the time of purchase? A red flag should be raised, something may have been done that goes beyond what is reported or seller’s declarations.

If you decide to purchase a report after our review, go to CarVertical.

Using this link gives you a 30% discount.

Motorcycle history report CarVertical - opinion and example F850 GS

Readable and nice, that is definitely something to say about the motorcycle history report from CarVertical. But is it reliable? Let's check!

At the beginning, we have the standard concise summary of what we will find in the report. I like the navigation method; you can either click on the menu at the top - scrollable sideways, just like on our website 💛 or in a given tile.

What AI knows about BMW F850GS

Unfortunately, not much; it failed completely, and the generated text has nothing to do with the checked motorcycle. Instead, it elaborates on BMW but the car. Below is a fragment of the generated text: Things worth knowing about: BMW F 2022 - Generated by AI

The BMW F 2022 model offers several engine options and body types, providing a wide range of choices for car enthusiasts. Different variants cater to various driver preferences and needs. Let's compare different engines, body types, and specifications of the BMW F 2022.

Engine options:

1. BMW F 2022 320i: This variant is equipped with a turbocharged 2.0-liter inline engine producing 181 HP. It offers a balanced combination of efficiency and performance, making it an ideal choice for everyday commuting and occasional spirited driving.
2. BMW F 2022 330i: With a similar 2.0-liter inline engine, the 330i variant is more powerful, producing 255 horsepower. This additional power enhances acceleration and provides a livelier driving experience, making it suitable for those who desire more dynamic performance.
3. BMW F 2022 M340i: The M340i offers a higher level of performance, equipped with a 3.0-liter inline engine with an impressive output of 382 HP. This variant is designed for speed enthusiasts, providing exhilarating acceleration and improved handling characteristics.

Odometer Status - do motorcycles get rolled back?

Odometer rollback in motorcycles is a practice that unfortunately occurs in the secondary market, although it is less common than in cars. Motorcycles are often treated as seasonal vehicles, and their owners usually cover less distance than car drivers, making tampering with odometers less tempting. Nevertheless, dishonest sellers may attempt to roll back the odometers to artificially inflate the value of the vehicle. As a result, a motorcycle with a rolled-back odometer may seem better maintained or less used, which impacts its market price.

The average annual mileage of a motorcycle is usually significantly lower than that of a car. For the typical user, who uses the motorcycle mainly in warmer months, annual mileage rarely exceeds a few thousand kilometers. Therefore, even motorcycles that are a few years old often have relatively low mileage. The market value of a motorcycle largely depends on its technical and visual condition, but mileage remains an important indicator. Buyers should be aware of the risks associated with odometer tampering and carefully check the vehicle's history before purchasing.

In my case, it is about 4-6 thousand km per year. Here in the CarVertical report, it shows that we have the factory mileage of the motorcycle. Odd because during the damage settlement, it already had a few thousand kilometers, but that record is missing.

Damage Data in the Report

Motorcycle damages can vary significantly in scope and severity, with repair costs depending on many factors such as the motorcycle brand, type of damage, and availability of spare parts. Damages ranging from 2,000 to 6,000 zlotys can be considered significant, especially for motorcycles with lower market values. Such damages may include serious mechanical issues, bodywork damage, or complicated painting jobs. It is important to consider not only the cost of repair when assessing damage but also the impact of the damage on the overall technical condition and safety of the motorcycle.

In the case of the GS, this is a few percent of the motorcycle's value; in my case, it was a dented exhaust that was repaired under the perpetrator's insurance and luggage rack brackets. Nothing big but it is simply not repaired, and the cost of a new part in the ASO is pretty high, around 5,000 zlotys, so CarVertical correctly displayed these values.

When purchasing a motorcycle that has been repaired, special attention should be paid to several key aspects. First, it is important to verify what damages occurred and who performed the repair. Ideally, the repair was made at an authorized service, which provides greater assurance of quality. Secondly, check for any hidden damages that may have been overlooked or concealed by the seller. A good idea is to commission an independent mechanic or expert to conduct a technical inspection. Also, find out whether repairs affected the manufacturer's warranty and if there are any issues with insuring the vehicle due to its history.

Technical Data on Motorcycles in CV Reports

The report on the BMW F850 GS Adventure includes basic technical information such as year of production, engine capacity. Unlike car reports (see Scenic above), which may include a detailed description of additional equipment, motorcycle reports are less likely to provide information on additional equipment such as cruise control or suspension packages.

The BMW F850 GS Adventure is a well-equipped model, but it also offers a range of optional packages and accessories that can significantly enhance the comfort and capabilities of the motorcycle (and its price).

The most important of these include:

• Comfort Package including heated grips and a proximity key.
• Touring Package with Dynamic ESA (Electronic Suspension Adjustment), preparation for the navigation system, and tire pressure monitoring.
• Dynamic Package including Pro ride modes, Pro shift assistant, and dynamic traction control DTC.
• Lights Package with additional LED lights and adaptive headlights.

When purchasing a used BMW F850 GS Adventure motorcycle, it is important to pay attention to which of these packages and accessories are present, as they can significantly affect the motorcycle's value and usability. Unfortunately, we will not find this data in the CarVertical report.

Has the report convinced you to purchase it? Click here and check the history of your motorcycle!

Also see the PDF vehicle history report of my BMW F850 GS ADV

Summary of the vehicle history report from CarVertical

This product contains a lot of marketing elements - skillfully turning the lack of information into an advantage, claiming that it's good that they didn't find anything. Honestly, I have difficulty believing this. I am more inclined to assume that they simply do not have this data. We won’t find out what’s inside until we pay.

Although they declare a 100% money-back guarantee, it is a Lithuanian company; I haven't checked how customer service looks like and whether these assurances are true. Fewer data, but packaged in a more attention-grabbing marketing framework, which might be appealing.

Interested in purchasing a vehicle history report from CarVertical?

Also read the ranking of companies offering vehicle history reports