VINs provide incredibly useful information in determining a car’s history, from routine maintenance to accidents and other types of damage. If you’re planning to buy a used car in the Golden State, you should run a California VIN check to find out whether the vehicle has been involved in an accident, has structural or flood damage, has been tampered with, has the proper safety features, is up-to-date on maintenance, or has any other kind of financial red flags you should know about.