Your car's VIN tells you everything you need to know about your vehicle, but how do you check a VIN for free?

The Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) is an important identifier for your car. It's easy to find the VIN of a car–just look at the corners where the windshield meets the dashboard.

Writing a bill of sale when you sell your car involves recording the VIN, a vehicle description, price, special agreements, and signing an oath.

To get the best deal on a car, use a VIN lookup and check for accidents, flood damage, or a salvage title.

The best way to find out if a used car has a lien is to look at the title. You could also request documentation such as a lien release or registration.