CA
US
FAQ: How to Find the Previous Owner of a Vehicle Canada?
From One Hand to Another: How to Trace the Previous Owner of Your Vehicle in Canada
When you purchase a used car, it’s important to have a clear understanding of the vehicle’s history. One important piece of information is the identity of the previous owner. This can help you to ensure that the vehicle is not stolen, has not been in any serious accidents, and has been well-maintained.Tracing the previous owner of your vehicle can be a daunting task, especially if you have little knowledge of the Canadian automotive industry. However, with the right information and guidance, it can be a straightforward process.
In this post, we will be discussing exactly that — how to trace the previous owner of your vehicle in Canada — an important task for all car owners. So, if you’re curious about the previous owners of your car and want to learn more, keep reading!
Don’t take chances when it comes to buying a used car! Don’t miss out on potential issues such as accidents, damages, and other important history that can impact your decision.
The Reason Why Car Owner Information is Not for Everyone
Car owner identities are usually hidden for privacy and safety reasons. Revealing the identity of the car owner can expose them to potential risks, such as theft, stalking, harassment, or even physical harm.In some cases, car owners may also prefer to keep their identities hidden to avoid being targeted for marketing campaigns or unwanted solicitations.
In addition, maintaining anonymity can also protect sensitive personal information, such as financial and credit card details, from falling into the wrong hands.
Given the horror stories surrounding car scams like odometer fraud, and VIN cloning, it is understandable why car owners and the Canadian legal system are extra careful when handling sensitive data.
Hence, concealing the identity of car owners is an essential measure to ensure their safety and security.
What Can VIN Check Tools Tell About Past Owners?
Due to Canada privacy and security laws, VIN lookup tools (like Carfax, AutoCheck, and VinCheck.info) can only reveal information that is lawful to expose publicly, such as details that aim to protect consumers’ interests.
Unless they are authorized by the government, they can only divulge the following:
- Number of owners
- Dates of sales or ownership transfer
- Instances of repairs and accidents
- Vehicle title brands
- Insurance premiums that were chosen by past owners
The Ontario Ministry of Transportation, for instance, requires users to submit a completed application form to get a vehicle history report that contains the aforementioned data. Other Canadian local government units have their own specific vehicle history search services. This process, of course, requires a qualification check to verify if the applicant has the right to access such information.
Other than that, there are other ways for used car buyers
- Used car buyers can find the basic information of the owner(s), such as the name and address from vehicle documents, like car registration and title.
- Some Car Buy & Sell sites, like AutosForSale.com, may contain listings that include the owner’s contact number and location. Used car buyers can also reach out to the seller using their given phone numbers if they want more information.
- If you want to background check for possible criminal records, you can inquire from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police website.
- For situations involving filing an insurance claim, you may want to get in touch with the concerned insurance provider. Your insurance provider can also confirm a previous owner’s identity on your behalf.
The most comprehensive Automotive Data & Analytics
- Automotive Market Trends & Insights
- White Papers & Researches
- Auto Market Analytics Articles