In many cases, particularly when a car is being sold by a respected dealer, there will be no red flags to worry about. But the VIN can reveal worrisome details like unseen flood damage, prior traffic accidents, salvaged titles, repair and maintenance intel, and odometer inconsistencies. Essentially, running a VIN check can alert you to any major warning signs that a given car might not be a smart purchase. It’s a great way to know whether the car — and even the seller — will be worth your time and money.