Built with NHTSA public data & AI analysis

Don't Buy a Lemon.
Check It First.

We analyze 2.18 million NHTSA safety complaints, recalls, and investigations to give you a risk score for any used car. Free. No signup required.

100% Free
No Signup
30 Second Results
2.18M+
NHTSA Complaints Analyzed
36,000+
Vehicle Models Covered
5
Data Sources Cross-Referenced
$0
Cost, Always Free
About CarAdvisr

What is a Used Car
Risk Report?

Every year, millions of used cars are sold in the U.S., and many of them have hidden safety issues that dealers won't tell you about. CarAdvisr pulls real government safety data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and cross-references it with recalls, investigations, and manufacturer bulletins to build a complete risk profile for any vehicle.

What does the report show?

Unlike a Carfax report that shows what already happened to a specific car, our risk report shows what is likely to go wrong based on data from every owner who has ever reported a problem with that make, model, and year. We analyze complaint patterns at your exact mileage to give you a prediction, not just a history.

Who is this for?

Whether you're a first-time buyer who doesn't know what to look for, a parent searching for a safe car for your teen, or a budget shopper comparing 3 options on Facebook Marketplace, CarAdvisr gives you the knowledge you need in 30 seconds. No signup. No credit card. No catch.

What You Get, For Free

Every report includes all of the following

  • Risk Score (0-100)

    A single number combining complaint severity, recall history, and quality data, lower is better

  • AI Buyer's Verdict

    A clear Buy, Consider, or Walk Away recommendation with detailed reasoning from our AI

  • Mileage-Specific Inspection Checklist

    Top 5 things to physically check, tailored to your car's exact mileage with estimated repair costs

  • Market Price Analysis

    See if the asking price is fair based on real listing data from thousands of comparable vehicles

  • Recall & Safety Alerts

    Every open and closed recall with campaign details, consequences, and the manufacturer's official remedy

  • Full Complaint Breakdown

    Every NHTSA complaint organized by system, engine, transmission, brakes, electrical, with severity trends

How It Works

Three steps to know if a used car is worth buying, takes less than 30 seconds.

1

Enter Your Car

Type in the year, make, model, and mileage, or just paste the VIN and we'll decode it automatically.

2

We Analyze Everything

Our AI scans NHTSA complaints, recalls, TSBs, investigations, and market data to build a complete risk profile.

3

Get Your Verdict

Receive a detailed report with risk score, inspection checklist, price analysis, and a clear Buy or Walk Away recommendation.

Everything You Need to Buy Smart

More than just a history check, we predict what will go wrong at your mileage.

Risk Score (0-100)

A single number that tells you how risky this car is. Combines complaints, recalls, TSBs, investigations, and quality data. Lower is better.

Inspection Checklist

The top 5 things to inspect before buying, tailored to your car's mileage. Includes what to look for and estimated repair costs.

AI Buyer's Verdict

Our AI analyzes all the data and gives you a clear recommendation: Buy, Consider, or Walk Away, with detailed reasoning.

Price Analysis

See how the asking price compares to market data. Know instantly if it's a great deal, fair price, or overpriced.

Recall Alerts

Every recall on record, with campaign details, what's affected, consequences, and the manufacturer's remedy.

Complaint Breakdown

See every NHTSA complaint organized by system, engine, transmission, brakes, electrical, with severity and trends over time.

See What a Report Looks Like

Here's a sample risk report for a 2018 Toyota Camry at 75,000 miles.

37.2 / 100

2018 Toyota Camry

75,000 miles • Grade: B

Recommended Buy
47
NHTSA Complaints
3
Active Recalls
$18,200
Market Value

Top Issues to Inspect

1
Engine, Oil Consumption Check oil level and look for blue exhaust smoke
2
Transmission, Shift Quality Test for hesitation or jerking during acceleration
3
Electrical, Infotainment System Verify Bluetooth, CarPlay, and backup camera work properly

Why CarAdvisr?

More than a history check. Better than paying $40 for Carfax.

Feature CarAdvisr Carfax
Price Free $39.99+
Risk Score
NHTSA Complaints 2.18M analyzed
AI Verdict
Inspection Checklist Mileage-specific
Recall Check
Accident History Via VIN check

Built for Real Car Buyers

Whether it's your first car or your fifth, knowledge is power.

🎓

First-Time Buyers

"I don't know anything about cars. CarAdvisr told me exactly what to check on a 2019 Civic before I drove 2 hours to see it. Saved me from buying one with 23 engine complaints."

👨‍👩‍👧

Parents Buying for Teens

"Needed a safe, reliable car for my daughter. The safety score and recall check gave me peace of mind. We avoided a model with 5 open recalls."

💰

Budget Shoppers

"I was comparing 3 SUVs under $15k. CarAdvisr showed me one had 3x more transmission complaints than the others. Easy decision."

Check Any Used Car

Enter the vehicle details below or paste a VIN to get your free risk report.

Find the VIN on the driver's side dashboard or door jamb sticker

Vehicle Found
Year
Make
Model
Trim
Engine
Trans
Drive
Body
miles
$

Loading makes...

Loading models...

miles

These details help generate more specific and accurate results.

$

Analyzing Your Vehicle

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, 100% free. No credit card, no signup, no hidden fees. We believe everyone deserves access to safety data before making a major purchase.
We pull data from 5 official sources: NHTSA consumer complaints (2.18 million+), NHTSA recalls, NHTSA investigations, Technical Service Bulletins (TSBs), and manufacturer communications. This is real government safety data, not dealer-reported or crowdsourced.
Carfax shows vehicle history (accidents, ownership, service). CarAdvisr shows vehicle risk, what's likely to go wrong based on complaint patterns for that exact make, model, and mileage. We also provide AI-powered inspection checklists, risk scores, and a buy/walk-away verdict. And we're free, Carfax costs $40-$100.
The Risk Score ranges from 0 to 100, lower is better. It combines NHTSA complaint volume and severity, recall history, TSBs, manufacturer communications, and investigation data. A score under 30 is excellent; 30-50 is moderate; over 50 means proceed with caution.
You can check any car sold in the United States from 1995 to present. We cover all makes and models, Toyota, Honda, Ford, Chevrolet, BMW, Mercedes, Hyundai, Kia, and every other manufacturer in the NHTSA database.

Ready to Check Your Car?

Don't spend $40 on Carfax. Don't trust the dealer's word. Get the data.

Check a Car Free

No signup required. Results in 30 seconds.

Free Used Car Buying Guide

Weekly tips: what to check, how to negotiate, which cars to avoid.

You're in!