Best VIN check site? Carfax worth it (or alternatives)?

[Homeslice]

I'm currently looking at a 2009 Cadillac Escalade I might purchase. The shop selling it advertised it as AWD. I want to make absolutely sure it is (maybe the all come with it). I have the VIN, and I went to this site:

https://www.decodethis.com

And put in the VIN, and sure enough it says AWD.

Is that as good a decoder as any to confirm what the car came with? It doesn't tell me everything - for example, it says sunroof "optional", where this one clearly has one.

Also, I take it smart to get a carfax? I'm having it inspected by a third-party pre-purchase inspection place, but I think I should still get a carfax no? Or is there any similar, but better, service out there?

Thanks!!

 

[bill1013]

I'm currently looking at a 2009 Cadillac Escalade I might purchase. The shop selling it advertised it as AWD. I want to make absolutely sure it is (maybe the all come with it). I have the VIN, and I went to this site:

https://www.decodethis.com

And put in the VIN, and sure enough it says AWD.

Is that as good a decoder as any to confirm what the car came with? It doesn't tell me everything - for example, it says sunroof "optional", where this one clearly has one.

Also, I take it smart to get a carfax? I'm having it inspected by a third-party pre-purchase inspection place, but I think I should still get a carfax no? Or is there any similar, but better, service out there?

Thanks!!

Carfax gives you a history of the vehicle which includes accidents and work done on the vehicle. It can help you decide on the purchase price.

 

[2016Dom]

Free GM Vin Decoder | GMPartsGiant

Free GM VIN Decoder - Do a VIN lookup to acquire specific car information. Ordering exact-fit parts has never been this smooth and hassle-free on GMPartsGiant!

www.gmpartsgiant.com

I believe this will tell you all options added

 

[Marky Dissod]

Free GM Vin Decoder | GMPartsGiant

Free GM VIN Decoder - Do a VIN lookup to acquire specific car information. Ordering exact-fit parts has never been this smooth and hassle-free on GMPartsGiant!

www.gmpartsgiant.com

but use your VIN instead

 

[homesick]

Not a criticism, but keep in mind that CarFax type services can only show you events that have been reported.

If a guy repairs his own damage, it won't show up anywhere.

joe

 

[GMCChevy]

A quick Google search will find you the sales brochure, it'll give you pretty much all of the answers about whats standard and optional equipment.

 

[swathdiver]

I'm currently looking at a 2009 Cadillac Escalade I might purchase. The shop selling it advertised it as AWD. I want to make absolutely sure it is (maybe the all come with it). I have the VIN, and I went to this site:

https://www.decodethis.com

And put in the VIN, and sure enough it says AWD.

Is that as good a decoder as any to confirm what the car came with? It doesn't tell me everything - for example, it says sunroof "optional", where this one clearly has one.

Also, I take it smart to get a carfax? I'm having it inspected by a third-party pre-purchase inspection place, but I think I should still get a carfax no? Or is there any similar, but better, service out there?

Thanks!!

I find CarFax more informative than the others if memory serves. GMPartsGiant's RPO lookup is great! Avoid the generic ones that lead to confusion.

2009 6.2s were the L9H engine, no AFM and FlexFuel with the larger injectors. Awesome engine, I currently have two of them in pickups.

 

[zbad55]

You could also go to a GM dealer and ask them to run the VIN for a history report, this can provide all the RPO options the vehicle has and a lot of other information

 

[Double J]

There is also a self report service input option that CarFax offers those who do their own work…fluid changes, repairs etc can be recorded which will show on the general summary report. Those that do liklely only report positive events

 

[grouch]

I'm currently looking at a 2009 Cadillac Escalade I might purchase. The shop selling it advertised it as AWD. I want to make absolutely sure it is (maybe the all come with it). I have the VIN, and I went to this site:

https://www.decodethis.com

And put in the VIN, and sure enough it says AWD.

Is that as good a decoder as any to confirm what the car came with? It doesn't tell me everything - for example, it says sunroof "optional", where this one clearly has one.

Also, I take it smart to get a carfax? I'm having it inspected by a third-party pre-purchase inspection place, but I think I should still get a carfax no? Or is there any similar, but better, service out there?

Thanks!!

Carfax is one of the better sites. It often shows maintenance and other work done. I sprang for a Carfax when I bought my Mazda years ago. It still keeps track of my service records in some cases. This will pay off down the road if I sell it. However, it also kept me from making a HUGE mistake. Before the CX-5, I looked at a Mitsubishi. The dealer gave me a copy of the Equifax report and it showed no accidents. The car looked brand new although the printed sticker on the windshield was extremely weathered. I almost bought it but the drive felt a bit...off. I didn't have my check book so I didn't put a deposit down on it. Sunday night I bought a Carfax report.

It showed the car had been creamed in an accident. The roof, hood and drivers side rear door were the only original body panels. It had spent nearly 2 months in the body shop. It was traded in on another vehicle the day after it got out of the shop. Evidently the chassis was warped a bit hence the odd chassis dynamics.

The expense of that report saved me mucho bucks on a bad car. Nothing will beat your Mark I eyeball when you look at it in person. Get the report then look the car over.

 

[fozzi58]

I've used CompNine's VIN decoder in the past - works well. But no history report on the car like CarFax

 

[Doubeleive]

I'm currently looking at a 2009 Cadillac Escalade I might purchase. The shop selling it advertised it as AWD. I want to make absolutely sure it is (maybe the all come with it). I have the VIN, and I went to this site:

https://www.decodethis.com

And put in the VIN, and sure enough it says AWD.

Is that as good a decoder as any to confirm what the car came with? It doesn't tell me everything - for example, it says sunroof "optional", where this one clearly has one.

Also, I take it smart to get a carfax? I'm having it inspected by a third-party pre-purchase inspection place, but I think I should still get a carfax no? Or is there any similar, but better, service out there?

Thanks!!

oddly enough the sunroof is optional and I do not know of any decoder that says yes it has one or not, same for other bells & whistles like retractable running boards or blind spot detection, heated & cooled seats, 2nd row captains chair or bench, 3rd row drop down lcd etc (those things require a visible check)
you cannot assume they all have it because you might be sadly mistaken. Then on top of all of that dealers insert INCORRECT information all the time.
this one is the closest to what it has or does not have down to the axle ratio's

VIN Decoder - Chevrolet Forum - Chevy Enthusiasts Forums

Chevrolet VIN Decoder - Decode your vehicle identification number

chevroletforum.com

 

[Doubeleive]

optionally you can take the vin to any gm dealer and request they print out the build sheet, that is the ultimate yes/no answer.