2017 NISSAN ROGUE SL VIN 5N1AT2MV0HC791228

This Nissan Rogue SL is a 2017 model, finished in grey. Power reaches the wheels through a CVT gearbox. The engine is a 2.5-litre petrol unit with four cylinders. Every figure for this car is given as it appears in the source data.

The record gives the mileage as 100,115 miles. A single figure proves little: what makes a mileage believable is a series of readings that rise steadily over the years. Title paperwork often notes the mileage at each change of owner, which makes it a useful cross-check.

This Nissan Rogue SL is recorded with front-end damage. A damage entry is a starting point for the inspection, telling the mechanic where to look first.

When checked, the car could be started and driven under its own power. A key was there when the car was checked.

According to the source data, the car has a transfer document in place of a title. Without a title certificate, registering the car can take extra paperwork and checks.

A car’s history is the sum of what has happened to it since it was new, and most of it has left a trace on paper somewhere. A car’s paperwork is scattered: the registry knows about owners, the workshop about repairs and the insurance company about claims. A car’s past rarely shows on the paintwork: a well-repaired accident or water damage that was dried out is easy to miss.

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. Many modern petrol engines are turbocharged and direct-injected; where they are, the turbocharger and injectors belong on a specialist’s checklist. The CVT gearbox should respond smoothly and without delay; jerks, slipping or hesitation on a test drive need investigating.

A history check works by VIN because the number never changes, unlike registration plates and owners. The VIN of this Nissan Rogue SL is 5N1AT2MV0HC791228. 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.

Where entries exist, a VIN check can show changes of owner, past mileage readings, reported damage and whether the car is listed as stolen. A repair paid for in cash at a small workshop leaves no trace in any database, so no report can list it. However complete the paperwork, only an inspection shows the condition of the body, suspension, brakes and electrics today. A history check on VIN 5N1AT2MV0HC791228 is the place to start.