AI agents for business finance: what they can and can't do
What AI agents can do in bookkeeping, close, collections and compliance today, where a person must stay in charge, and how to judge a product.
The short answer
Before you buy a used car in the US, run the VIN through an NMVTIS vehicle history report to see the current title, the latest odometer reading and brands such as junk, salvage or flood, and read the FTC Buyers Guide on the window to see whether the car is sold as is. Then pay an independent mechanic to inspect it, because history reports usually do not show mechanical problems.
For most Nigerian newcomers, the first car is a used one, often bought quickly because public transport in many US cities is thin. That urgency is exactly what sellers of flood-damaged and rebuilt cars rely on. A few checks, costing far less than the car, protect you from the worst outcomes.
Start with the VIN
Every car has a 17-character vehicle identification number (VIN), usually visible through the windscreen on the driver's side and on the door frame. Check that the VIN on the car matches the one on the title and on any paperwork the seller gives you. A mismatch, or signs that the plate has been tampered with, is a reason to walk away.
What an NMVTIS report shows
The National Motor Vehicle Title Information System (NMVTIS), run under the US Department of Justice, exists to protect consumers from fraud and unsafe vehicles. Its consumer page says a report shows:
- information from the car's current title
- the latest reported odometer reading
- brands such as junk, salvage and flood, which stay on the record once a state applies them
- insurance total-loss or salvage determinations
- transfers to recyclers, junk yards or salvage yards, and in some cases theft history
Reports are bought through approved providers listed on the NMVTIS site; the consumer page does not give a price, so compare on the purchase page.
What it does not show
NMVTIS is clear about its limits. Its data is not the full state title record. More than half of states report to the system, so a clean report can be a "false negative". States define brands differently, so a car treated as salvage in one state may carry no brand in another. And a "total loss" entry does not necessarily mean the car was destroyed. Commercial history reports may add accident and service records, and the FTC says such reports can show accidents and flood damage, but usually not mechanical problems.
Title brands and why they matter
| Brand | What it usually signals | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Salvage | An insurer or state treated the car as a total loss | Avoid unless you know exactly what was repaired and by whom |
| Flood | Water damage, which can cause electrical and corrosion problems for years | Avoid in most cases, especially after hurricane seasons |
| Junk | Meant for parts or scrap | Do not buy to drive |
| Rebuilt or reconstructed (names vary by state) | A salvage car repaired and inspected for road use | Expect lower resale value and harder insurance |
Branded cars are often cheaper for a reason. They can be harder to insure and to sell later, and lenders may refuse to finance them.
Dealer sales: the Buyers Guide
The FTC's guide to buying from a dealer (modified December 2025) says dealers must display a Buyers Guide on every used car and give it to you after the sale. It shows whether the car is sold "as is" or with a warranty, and what share of repair costs the dealer will pay. If the "As Is - No Dealer Warranty" box is ticked, you bear the cost of problems after the sale. Get any spoken promises written on the Buyers Guide, which overrides conflicting terms in the contract.
The independent inspection
The FTC says a history report does not replace a mechanical inspection by an independent mechanic, even for dealer-certified cars. Ask for a written report with the make, model, VIN and an estimate of repair costs, and use it to negotiate. If a dealer will not allow an independent inspection, the FTC suggests considering another dealer. For private sales, a seller who refuses an inspection is telling you something.
Worked example: two similar cars
Example only. Ifeoma in Houston compares two 2018 saloons at $11,500 and $9,200 from different sellers.
- She checks both VINs against the titles. Both match.
- The NMVTIS report on the cheaper car shows a flood brand from another state; the dearer car shows none.
- She pays a mechanic to inspect the dearer car. He finds worn brakes and estimates $600.
- She negotiates $10,900 and keeps the inspection report.
The $2,300 saving on the first car would have been small next to the cost of flood damage.
One more point for private sales: meet in a public place, check the seller's ID against the name on the title, and pay by a traceable method only when the signed title is handed over.
What to check first
- VIN on the car matches the title.
- Title is in the seller's name, with no lien shown, or the lender is paid off at sale.
- NMVTIS report shows no junk, salvage or flood brand.
- Buyers Guide read and any promises written on it.
- Independent inspection done before you pay.
Then sort out insurance and registration. See buying a car with no US credit, car loans on an ITIN or new SSN and car insurance in Houston.
Questions people ask
How do I check if a used car has a salvage title?
Run the VIN through an NMVTIS vehicle history report and read the title itself. NMVTIS warns that not all states report, so a clean report is not proof.
Is a Carfax the same as an NMVTIS report?
No. NMVTIS is a federal title database with a set list of indicators. Commercial reports may add accident and service records. Neither replaces an inspection.
What does as is mean on a used car?
The FTC says the dealer will not pay for problems after the sale, so you carry the risk. Get any promises written on the Buyers Guide.
Should I buy a flood-damaged car?
In most cases no. Flood damage can cause electrical and corrosion problems for years, and branded cars are harder to insure and sell.
Sources
- NMVTIS (US Department of Justice): Information for consumers (undated) · accessed Oct 2026
- FTC: Buying a used car from a dealer (modified 9 Dec 2025) · accessed Oct 2026
This article is general information, not financial, legal or tax advice. Products described are provided under the terms on this site and are subject to regulation and eligibility.