Check a car before you contact the dealer

Found a car you like? Use these free car research tools to check its VIN, see what is known and what still needs confirming, and prepare your questions for the dealer. Still choosing? Use CarClever to find U.S. listings and compare your shortlist.

Start here

Already found a car? Check its VIN and prepare your dealer questions.

Choosing between cars? Search and compare with CarClever in Claude or ChatGPT. Prefer the web? Try CarClever Lite.

Deciding between new and used? See what $30,000 buys in Dallas, Denver and Atlanta.

CarClever – Buying Assistant

Use CarClever inside Claude or ChatGPT. Describe the car you want in plain English, compare your shortlist side by side, check any VIN and open each listing to confirm with the dealer.

Free to use. You need a Claude or ChatGPT account.

See the guide and setup

CarClever Lite

Search U.S. new and used listings on the web. Tell CarClever your budget, ZIP code and the kind of car you need, then open a listing to confirm with the dealer. Free, and no sign-up needed on this website.

Try CarClever Lite

Deal Score Calculator

See a score and calculation breakdown using the available vehicle and market data. Use it as one input alongside the vehicle history, service records and an independent inspection.

Try Deal Score Calculator

Price Check

Compare a vehicle’s asking price with available similar listings. Review the comparison alongside mileage, trim and condition, then confirm the full out-the-door price with the dealer.

Try Price Check

VIN Check

Already found a car? Enter its VIN to see the recalls on record for that model year, check whether it’s in our dealer listings, and get the questions to ask the dealer before you contact them. It also links to NHTSA’s check for open recalls on that exact VIN and to the Edmunds listing or similar cars. To judge the asking price, use our Deal Score or Price Check web app.

Try VIN Check

Used-car risk guide

Learn what to ask about title history, service records, recalls and an independent inspection before buying a used car.

Read the used-car risk guide

Ownership-cost guide

Work through the costs beyond the asking price, including finance, insurance, fuel, maintenance and depreciation. Use the worked example to build your own budget.

See a worked ownership-cost example

Why Use These Car Research Tools

Facts and practical next steps. Use available listing and NHTSA information to compare cars, identify unanswered questions and prepare for the dealer.

Sources and limits explained. Listings are refreshed daily. Model-year recall information does not establish whether a particular car’s repairs are complete. Vehicle history, equipment, condition and current availability still need checking.

Choose how you use it. Start with the website tools, or use CarClever in Claude or ChatGPT for a conversation about your search and shortlist.

Clear affiliate disclosure. Some Edmunds links are affiliate links. We may earn a commission from qualifying enquiries, at no extra cost to you. Compensation does not determine the cars shown or their order.

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