What is VehicleTrace?

VehicleTrace is a community-driven platform where real vehicle owners share their ownership experiences. Unlike traditional vehicle history reports that only show accidents and service records, VehicleTrace provides authentic stories, maintenance insights, and honest reviews from actual owners.

How is VehicleTrace different from Carfax or AutoCheck?

While Carfax and AutoCheck provide official records like accidents, title status, and service history, VehicleTrace adds the human element. You'll learn about real ownership experiences, common issues, maintenance costs, and whether owners would buy the vehicle again. Think of it as "Yelp for vehicles."

Is VehicleTrace free to use?

Yes! Searching for vehicles and viewing ownership histories is completely free. Creating an account and sharing your own vehicle ownership story is also free.

How do I search for a vehicle?

You can search in two ways:

• By VIN: Enter the 17-character Vehicle Identification Number in the search box
• By Make/Model: Enter the make and model (e.g., "Honda Accord" or "2015 Ford F150")

What if a vehicle isn't in the database yet?

If you search for a VIN that's not in our database, you'll see helpful resources to find information elsewhere, plus a button to be the first person to add that vehicle! Your contribution helps future buyers.

Do I need to sign in to search?

Yes! You need to sign in with Google, Microsoft, or GitHub to search and view vehicle histories. This helps us maintain a trusted community and ensure quality information. Creating an account is free and takes just seconds.

How do I add my vehicle?

1. Click "Sign In" in the top right
2. Click the "+ Add Vehicle" button
3. Enter your vehicle's details and VIN
4. Share your ownership experience
5. Upload proof of ownership (registration, title, or bill of sale)
6. Submit for verification

Why do I need to verify my ownership?

Verification is optional! You can submit ownership records with or without supporting documents.

With documents (Verified ✓): Receive a verified badge confirming actual ownership to other users. Documents are reviewed by our admin team and permanently deleted after verification.

Without documents (Unverified): Your record is still added to the vehicle's history and helps future owners understand the car's past.

Choose the option that works best for you!

What documents can I upload as proof?

Acceptable documents include:

• Vehicle title
• Bill of sale
• Insurance documents

Make sure the VIN is clearly visible in the document!

How long does verification take?

Most submissions are reviewed within 24-48 hours. You'll receive an email notification when your submission is approved or if more information is needed.

What personal information is displayed?

We only display:

• Your first name (from your account)
• City and state where you owned the vehicle
• Your ownership dates
• Your review and experience

We never display: Full name, email address, phone number, exact address, or any financial information.

What happens to my proof of ownership documents?

Your documents are stored securely and only viewable by admin. After your submission is verified (approved or rejected), documents older than 14 days are automatically and permanently deleted from our servers. We don't keep your documents longer than necessary.

Can I delete my vehicle or account?

Within 7 days: Yes, you can delete your vehicle directly from your dashboard for up to 7 days after adding it. This grace period allows you to correct mistakes or remove accidental submissions.

After 7 days: Once your vehicle has been on VehicleTrace for more than 7 days, you can no longer delete it directly. However, you can submit a deletion request with an explanation. Our admin team will review your request and make a decision based on the circumstances.

If approved: When a deletion is approved, the vehicle is removed from our database, but a placeholder remains in search results indicating that the vehicle history was removed at the owner's request. This maintains data integrity for other users while respecting your privacy.

Common approval reasons:

• Added wrong vehicle by mistake
• Information is incorrect and cannot be edited
• Privacy concerns requiring removal
• Duplicate entry

Why 7 days? This policy ensures that vehicle history remains reliable for people researching vehicles, while still giving you flexibility to correct genuine mistakes quickly.

If you want to completely delete your account, please contact us at support@vehicletrace.org.

My submission was rejected. Why?

Common reasons for rejection:

• Document image is unclear or illegible
• VIN in document doesn't match the VIN you entered
• Ownership dates don't make sense
• Missing required information

Check your email for the specific reason, then you can resubmit with corrected information.

I can't find the VIN on my vehicle. Where is it?

The VIN is typically located:

• On the dashboard near the windshield (driver's side)
• On the driver's side door jamb
• On your vehicle registration or insurance card
• On your vehicle title

Can I edit my submission after it's approved?

Yes! Go to "My Vehicles" and click "Edit" on any of your approved entries. You can update your ownership story, maintenance notes, and other details. You'll need to resubmit for verification if you change major details like dates or VIN.

How do I report incorrect information?

If you see information that you believe is false or misleading, please email us at support@vehicletrace.org with details. We take accuracy very seriously and will investigate all reports.

I have a question that isn't answered here.

We're here to help! Email us at support@vehicletrace.org and we'll get back to you within 24 hours.

Can I contribute or provide feedback?

Absolutely! We're always looking to improve VehicleTrace. Send your suggestions, feature requests, or feedback to support@vehicletrace.org. We read every message!

What are badges?

Badges are achievements you can earn by participating in the VehicleTrace community. They appear on your profile and next to your name on ownership stories, showing your contributions and credibility to other users.

How do I earn badges?

Badges are awarded automatically when you meet their requirements. You can view your badge progress in the "My Badges" section of your profile.

What badges are available?