All you need is the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) to order the report on-line from a Canadian company like CarProof. With their live connection to each motor vehicle and lien registration database in Canada, and connections to Canadian insurance industry and U.S. automotive databases with billions of records, a CarProof Vehicle History Report conducts an instant, but thorough background check of a vehicle including:

. where the vehicle has been registered in Canada, by province, and in the United States

. if the vehicle has been classified as a salvage, non-repairable, rebuilt or junk vehicle; prior uses are sometimes included as well depending on the jurisdiction (police, taxi, fleet/rentals, etc.)

. whether the vehicle has been stolen or was damaged in a major accident

. whether there are any outstanding loans, debts or liens that could impact your outright ownership

. if the vehicle has had hail, flood or fire damage

. whether the vehicle was legally imported from the U.S. or elsewhere

. verifiable odometer readings from third party sources such as insurance companies and auto body repair shops

. details of insurance coverage including renewal of policies and previous claim amounts

"It's important for consumers to protect themselves, and our survey found that a vehicle history report can provide the information a consumer requires to make an informed decision when purchasing a used vehicle," said Paul Antony, president of CarProof. "But be cautious; not all vehicle history reports provide the same degree of detail, and the used vehicle information packages required by some of the provinces aren't comprehensive enough to tell you, for instance, if the vehicle has been involved in an accident."

More information about vehicle history reports is available online at www.carproof.com.