2016 NISSAN ALTIMA 2.5 S VIN 1N4AL3AP0GN367024

This Nissan Altima 2.5 S is a 2016 model, finished in silver. The petrol engine has four cylinders and produces 182 hp. Power reaches the wheels through an automatic gearbox. The specification is taken from the source data.

The source data puts the mileage at 104,732 miles. A clock converted from miles to kilometres should be documented, since the swap can hide the true mileage. Turning back an odometer takes little skill and leaves no visible trace, which is why earlier figures matter more than the display.

When the car was recorded, it showed damage to both front and rear. A damage entry is a starting point for the inspection, telling the mechanic where to look first.

The record notes that the car ran and drove. A key is on file for the car. Running condition describes a single moment, and standing or work done since can change it.

According to the source data, the car has a salvage title. A title like this is issued when repair was judged uneconomical or unsafe. If any work has been done on the car since, photos and invoices should show what was replaced.

A car’s history is everything logged against it since it left the factory: registrations and owners, inspections, repairs and insurance claims. The paperwork is kept by different bodies – registries, workshops, insurance companies and lenders – so the history of one car is spread across many places. From the outside, a car with a repaired accident and a car without one can look identical.

A cold start, the colour of the exhaust smoke and any oil leaks tell a mechanic a good deal about how an engine has been treated. On a petrol engine, a rough idle, misfires or a warning light on the dashboard need looking into. The automatic gearbox should respond smoothly and without delay; jerks, slipping or hesitation on a test drive need investigating.

A VIN never contains the letters I, O or Q, which could be mistaken for digits; its 17 characters identify the maker, the model and the individual car. The VIN of this Nissan Altima 2.5 S is 1N4AL3AP0GN367024. The number in the car’s documents should match the one stamped into the body and the one on the plate at the base of the windscreen.

A VIN report shows what has been logged: earlier registrations, odometer figures, damage entries, branded titles and theft checks, wherever such data exists. The past is on file; the car’s condition today is a job for a mechanic, who can check the structure, underbody, electrics and any repairs on a lift. Look up the history of VIN 1N4AL3AP0GN367024 first, and let what it shows guide the inspection.