2017 TOYOTA RAV4 LE VIN JTMBFREV9HJ136620

This Toyota RAV4 LE is a 2017 model. There is an automatic gearbox, with four-wheel drive. Under the bonnet is a 2.5-litre petrol engine.

The record gives the mileage as 151,827 miles. The instruments count in miles; the same distance in kilometres is about 1.6 times the figure. The mileage is high for the car’s age, so the suspension, brakes, seats and steering wheel deserve a close look. A single figure proves little: what makes a mileage believable is a series of readings that rise steadily over the years. Figures carry most weight when they come from independent sources: workshops, inspection stations and past title paperwork.

The record lists damage to the left front as the main problem on this car. Two cars with the same damage label can be very different: one needs a few new parts, the other major work. Whatever the cause, a diagnostic scan of the car’s electronics shows fault codes that a visual check misses.

The record notes that the car ran and drove. A key was there when the car was checked. Running condition describes a single moment, and standing or work done since can change it.

The record shows a salvage title. A title like this is issued when repair was judged uneconomical or unsafe. A branded title follows the car through every change of owner, so it remains part of its history.

A car’s history is everything logged against it since it left the factory: registrations and owners, inspections, repairs and insurance claims. From the outside, a car with a repaired accident and a car without one can look identical.

Regular oil changes and timely work on the timing belt or chain decide how well an engine copes with age. 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. Drive to all four wheels means more to maintain: differentials and couplings have oil of their own, which some manufacturers want changed at set intervals.

The VIN is a 17-character code assigned at the factory: it identifies the manufacturer, the model and its variant, and ends with a serial number unique to the car. The VIN on file for this car is JTMBFREV9HJ136620. A VIN that differs between the documents and the car, or shows signs of tampering, is reason enough to walk away.

What a history report can list depends on what has been documented about the car: registrations, mileage readings, damage, branded titles and theft reports. 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 JTMBFREV9HJ136620 first, and let what it shows guide the inspection.