Index
What is carVertical and what makes it different from the DGT report
What information is included in the carVertical report
What carVertical does not cover (and why it matters to know)
carVertical vs CARFAX: when to use each one
When is it worth requesting it and when is it not
How to interpret the report to make pricing decisions
Cost and how to request it
Frequently asked questions
What is carVertical and what makes it different from the DGT report
carVertical is a private platform of Lithuanian origin that generates vehicle history reports from the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN). It cross-references data from traffic registries, insurance companies, workshops, technical inspections, and police databases in more than 30 European countries and other continents.
The key difference with the DGT report is the geographical scope. The DGT report is the official Spanish source: it covers the registration status of the vehicle in Spain (outstanding finance, owners, ITVs, fines). carVertical covers the actual history of the vehicle in the countries where it has been registered or repaired, including data that Spanish official registries do not have.
For a dealership buying cars in the national market with a known history, the DGT report is usually sufficient. For imported cars, cars with an opaque history, or auction cars where the seller's information is limited, carVertical adds a layer of information that can completely change the purchase decision or the maximum price offered.
To see how to combine carVertical with the DGT report in the pre-purchase verification process, you can review the guide on CARFAX and DGT in car buying: how to use them together.
What information is included in the carVertical report
The content varies depending on the vehicle and the data available in each market, but most reports feature these blocks:
Mileage history. This is the section with the greatest impact on the buying decision. carVertical cross-references mileage readings from multiple sources (ITVs, workshops, auctions, insurance companies) at different points in time. If there is a reading of 140,000 km registered in Germany in 2021 and the current odometer reads 89,000 km, the report detects it and flags it as an inconsistency. This piece of information is especially valuable because odometer manipulation is one of the hardest frauds to detect with a visual inspection.
Accident history. If the vehicle had an accident that was processed by the insurance company or went through a workshop that shares data with carVertical, it appears in the report with the date, estimated severity, and in some cases photos of the damage. Accidents not reported to insurance (repaired privately) do not appear, but those that did go through the insurance process are recorded.
Usage history. If the vehicle was used as a taxi, rental vehicle, corporate fleet, or leasing at any point in its life, that information may appear in the report. A car with 60,000 km of apparent private use that was a taxi for two years has a very different wear-and-tear profile.
Ownership and country history. How many owners it has had, in which countries it has been registered, and when the changes occurred. Useful for detecting cars that have circulated through various European markets under different conditions.
Stolen vehicle alerts. The system queries international stolen vehicle databases. If the car appears in any of those databases, the report flags it as an alert.
Historical photographs. Some reports include photos of the vehicle from auctions or accident damage assessments. They are especially useful for comparing the current visual condition with the historical condition and detecting undeclared repairs.
What carVertical does not cover (and why it matters to know)
Knowing the limitations of the report is just as important as knowing what it covers, to avoid making decisions based on a false sense of security.
It does not cover Spanish registry charges. Seizures, retention of title, administrative embargoes, and outstanding fines are exclusive to the DGT report. carVertical does not have access to this data.
To see how to check the registration charges of the vehicle, you can review the guide on how to know if a car has liens.
It does not detect accidents repaired without insurance. If the previous owner paid for a repair out of pocket without going through the insurance company or a workshop that shares data, that accident will not appear. In Spain, a significant portion of small accidents are managed outside the insurance circuit.
Coverage varies greatly by country. For cars that have spent their entire life in Spain, carVertical has less data than for cars with a history in Germany, Poland, or countries with greater digitalisation of workshop and inspection registries. A ten-year-old Spanish car with little international history may generate a report with very little useful information.
It is not a substitute for a physical inspection. A clean report is no guarantee that the car is in good condition. It only certifies that there are no negative records in the queried databases, which is different.
carVertical vs CARFAX: when to use each one
These are similar tools with different origins and geographical coverage. The choice depends mainly on where the car has lived.
Feature | carVertical | CARFAX |
|---|---|---|
Main coverage | Europe (especially East and Central) | USA, Canada, and Western Europe |
Cars imported from Eastern Europe | Better coverage | More limited coverage |
Cars imported from USA or Canada | Limited coverage | Better coverage |
Guide Price | €10-20 | £15-£30 |
Historical photographs | Yes (in many cases) | Partial |
European auction history | Good coverage | Lower coverage |
Rule of thumb: for cars with a history in Germany, Poland, the Netherlands, France, or Eastern European countries, carVertical usually provides better information. For cars with a history in the USA or Anglo-Saxon markets, CARFAX is more comprehensive. For cars that have spent their entire life in Spain, the DGT report remains the most reliable reference.
In high-value transactions or with an opaque history, using both reports (carVertical + CARFAX) makes sense: the combined cost (€20-50) is marginal compared to the risk of making a bad purchase.
When is it worth requesting it and when is it not
It is worth it:
Cars imported from any European country, especially from markets with high turnover of used vehicles (Germany, Netherlands, Belgium). Cars bought in online auctions where the seller's information is limited. Cars with a price significantly below market value without clear justification. Cars with more than 100,000 km where the vehicle's history matters more. Cars that are going to be sold at a premium price where history transparency is a sales argument.
To see how history reports prevent buying mistakes, you can review the guide on the mistakes that cost the most money when buying cars to resell.
It is not as worth it:
Cars that have spent their entire life in Spain and have a single known owner. Direct leasing cars with a documented history from the leasing company. Low-end cars with a market value below €4,000, where the cost of the report represents a significant percentage of the margin.
How to interpret the report to make pricing decisions
A carVertical report is not simply a green or red traffic light: it is information to adjust the purchase price or discard the operation.
Detected mileage inconsistency. If the report shows a historical reading higher than the current odometer, there has been odometer manipulation. This is grounds for rejection unless there are very exceptional circumstances that the seller can justify with documentation. Buying a car with a manipulated odometer and reselling it without declaring it creates legal liability.
Minor accident recorded. A correctly repaired cosmetic impact reduces the market value by between 5% and 10%. Use it as an argument to adjust the purchase price downwards by that percentage.
Severe accident or declared total loss. Reduces market value by between 15% and 30% depending on the severity. Evaluate if there is a local market for that vehicle profile before buying, and if the price correctly reflects that history.
Usage history as a fleet or rental. This is not necessarily bad if maintenance is documented, but the wear and tear may be greater than in private use. Adjust the purchase price accordingly. To see how to integrate this analysis into the complete pre-purchase review process, you can consult the guide on what to check before buying a car for resale.
To see how to integrate the vehicle's history into the appraisal process, you can consult the used car valuation guide for dealerships.
Cost and how to request it
The price of a carVertical report ranges between €10 and €20, depending on the country of inquiry and the available promotions. carVertical also offers credit packages for volume dealerships, which reduce the cost per report starting from a minimum number of monthly inquiries.
To request the report you only need the vehicle's VIN (17-character chassis number). You can find it on the technical data sheet, on the vehicle registration document, and engraved on the car's chassis.
Dealcar is an official partner of carVertical: you can request the report directly from each vehicle's file on the platform, with preferential rates and the report linked to the car's file.
More than 750 dealerships already use Dealcar to manage their daily operations
From Dealcar you can request carVertical and DGT reports directly from each vehicle's file in your stock, with preferential rates and no minimums. The report is linked to the car's file and is available for the sales team at the time of delivery to the client.
If you want to see how it works, you can book a free demo at dealcar.io.
Frequently asked questions
Is carVertical reliable?
It is a valid data source but with limitations. The reliability of the report depends directly on the data available in each market. For cars with a history in countries with high registries digitalisation (Germany, Netherlands, Poland), the coverage is very good. For cars that have spent their entire life in Spain, it may provide less information than the DGT report itself.
How long does it take to generate the report?
The report is available in less than five minutes after entering the VIN. There is no waiting: the system queries the databases in real time.
Does carVertical detect all accidents?
Only those that went through the insurance circuit or workshops that share data with the platform. Privately repaired accidents are not registered. A report without accidents does not guarantee that the car has not had any.
Is it worth it for cheap cars?
It depends on the margin of the transaction. For a €3,000 car, paying €15 for the report represents 0.5% of the value. For a €15,000 car, the percentage is even lower. The real question is whether the risk of buying without information justifies that cost.
Can I show the report to the final buyer?
Yes. Showing the carVertical report to the client is a transparency argument that reduces doubts about the vehicle's history and can make closing the sale easier. Many dealerships include it as a standard service in the sale.
