All Articles | Baron Auto Used Car Guides

Before you buy

Check any VIN — free, instant, no sign-up

Decode the year, model, trim, plant and engine, then check NMVTIS for title brands and NHTSA for open recalls. The repair does not show on the paint. It shows in the record.

Browse by topic

Buying GuidesUsed Car Buying
Most used-car advice is written to sell you something.
Vehicle HistoryVIN & Vehicle History
A seventeen-character string on the dashboard holds more of a car’s story than any listing does.
FinancingCar Loans & Credit
The financing office is where a good deal on a car quietly becomes a bad deal overall.
Car CareDetailing & Maintenance
Maintenance advice written for new cars does not transfer cleanly to a vehicle with eighty thousand miles on it and an unknown service history.
Trade Your CarSelling & Trade-In
An appraiser spends a few minutes with your car and produces a number.
TrucksTrucks
Pickups are bought for a job, so the buying decision should start with the job rather than the badge.
New YorkNew York & Long Island
New York adds its own layer to a used-car purchase, and it catches people out.
GuidesGuides
This section is for the parts of owning a car that nobody explains until you need them.