Massachusetts VIN Check

Vehicle History

By looking up a car using its VIN in Massachusetts, you will be able to understand any potential risks associated with any of the cars displayed for sale by the 585 used car dealers in the Commonwealth. A comprehensive VIN check report will disclose details about major accidents, title history, collisions, ownership history, and repairs a vehicle may have undergone. It may even reveal a car's salvaged status.

Title Verification

Another reason you should consider running a VIN check before buying a preowned car in Massachusetts is to ensure the VIN matches the title documents, as there are over 5.18 million registered cars in the Commonwealth. Generally, a VIN lookup can help identify instances of stolen vehicles, title liens, salvage titles, and title washing.

Accident History

A Massachusetts VIN check will shed light on the accident history of any vehicle registered in the state, which is something you should know before paying to have a preowned car. This is even more important considering that there are over 70,000 auto crashes in the state annually. The report of a VIN lookup will identify the number of accidents a vehicle has had, the severity of each accident, and whether the car required expensive repairs.

Mileage Verification

With a VIN check, you can verify a Massachusetts-registered vehicle's actual mileage and ensure it matches its history. Typically, a VIN lookup report will reveal a vehicle's past odometer readings reported during the title transfers or registration renewals. According to the state’s Attorney General, tampering with a car's odometer readings is a common issue in the used vehicle market and is deemed fraudulent in Massachusetts.

Recalls and Safety Standards

Paying attention to a safety recall is crucial for the overall safety of a vehicle owner, passengers, and other road users. In 2023 alone, over 100,000 vehicles in the state had “‘Do Not Drive’ and ‘Park Outside’ recall orders. Thankfully, a VIN check on any car registered in the state can help you uncover unrepaired or outstanding safety recalls when purchasing a previously used car.

Theft Check

It is important to perform a VIN lookup on a preowned vehicle before purchasing it. Over 6,500 vehicles are reported stolen in Massachusetts every year, and some of these will end up in the used car market. A comprehensive report from a VIN check will disclose a car’s theft records.

Natural Disaster-Related Reasons

Massachusetts's most common natural disasters include flooding, hurricanes, severe storms, and landslides, which can potentially damage vehicles. For instance, the impacts of the state's flood events of March 2010 were severe, causing heavy damage to thousands of vehicles, among other recorded losses. With a VIN check, you can determine if a vehicle has been previously damaged by flood, hurricane, severe storm, or landslide in Massachusetts.

The Title Transfer Process

A title transfer is required to establish a buyer as the new owner of a car in any vehicle sale-and-buy transaction in Massachusetts. The seller must complete and sign a section on the back of the certificate of title to sign it over to the new owner/buyer. The current odometer reading must be filled out. Similarly, the buyer will fill out and sign their own section to officially accept vehicle ownership. However, the buyer must provide the following documents/information to complete the title transfer process within 10 days of purchase:

• A completed Registration and Title Application Form (the buyer's name, VIN, and the purchase price filled out on this form must all match the certificate of title being transferred)
• The vehicle's original title or bill of sale. A bill of sale can be used in place of a title for any vehicle exempt from needing a title, especially due to age
• A valid photo identification card (Driver's license preferred)
• A valid Massachusetts insurance policy
• Proof of payment for vehicle titling fees ($75) and a 6.25% sales tax

Submit the completed application and all other required documents in person to the nearest Massachusetts RMV Service Center to conclude the title transfer process. Alternatively, you may begin the process by applying online and visiting an RMV Service Center later with all required supporting documents. You will receive your new title within 6 to 8 weeks after submission. The same process applies to vehicles bought with out-of-state titles.

Massachusetts Insurance and Registration Requirements

Under Massachusetts law, having insurance coverages in at least the minimum amounts listed below is required to title or register a vehicle:

• Bodily Injury to Others - A minimum of $20,000 per person and $40,000 per accident is required to protect you or anyone driving your car from legal liability for causing an accident that injures or kills another person while driving
• Bodily Injury Caused by an Uninsured Vehicle - You need a minimum of $40,000 per accident and $20,000 per person to protect you against losses caused by a hit and run or uninsured driver
• Personal Injury Protection (PIP) - At least $8,000 per person per accident is needed to cover up to 75% of lost wages, medical expenses, and replacement services
• Property Damage - You require a minimum limit of $5,000 to help pay for damage to someone else's property in an accident caused by your vehicle

While these are the minimum amounts required by state law, you may purchase other optional coverages for additional protection

Massachusetts Titling Requirements and Sales Tax

Massachusetts' certificate of title law requires all vehicles to be titled within 10 days of purchase. However, the following are exempt from titling in the state:

• Passenger vehicles with model years 1980 and older, bought before November 26, 1990
• Trailers weighing 3,000 lbs or less

Generally, the following documents/information are required to title a vehicle in Massachusetts:

• Proof of vehicle ownership, which must contain the mileage and the signatures of the buyer and seller. It can be any of the following:
• Certificate of origin (new cars only)
• Dealer reassignment form (if applicable)
• Previous owner's certificate of title (for vehicles purchased as new)
• Bill of sale and previous registration (for a vehicle exempt from obtaining a title)
• Competed Registration and Title Application Form
• A valid identity document
• Proof of insurance
• Payment of the $75 titling fee and the applicable sale tax

If you are buying a pre-owned vehicle, you must verify that the VIN matches the certificate of title being transferred to you, which you can do through a VIN check. In addition, a VIN check will help you ascertain you are purchasing a used vehicle from the rightful and legal owner.

Massachusetts-Assigned VINs

You can obtain a Massachusetts-assigned VIN for replica vehicles, street rods, glider kits, homemade trailers, specially constructed vehicles, kit cars, custom vehicles, and motor vehicles with destroyed or missing VINs. Any VIN issued for a vehicle by the state is considered its official VIN and can be used for car titling and registration. It will not frustrate a buying/selling process, as it is officially recognized in the state. A Massachusetts-assigned VIN contains the prefix "MA" and a five-digit code, and it carries a control number for accountability purposes.