2019 NISSAN ALTIMA 2.5 SV VIN 1N4BL4DVXKC110090

This Nissan Altima 2.5 SV was built in 2019. Power reaches the wheels through an automatic gearbox. Under the bonnet is a 2.5-litre petrol engine producing 182 hp.

The clock stood at 39,658 miles when the data was entered. The instruments count in miles; the same distance in kilometres is about 1.6 times the figure. A single figure proves little: what makes a mileage believable is a series of readings that rise steadily over the years. Older figures usually turn up on service invoices, inspection reports and past title paperwork.

Primary damage in the record: front end. A damage type says what kind of damage the car had, not how serious it was or whether it has been repaired since. Given the kind of damage entered, a mechanic should look first at the radiator support, the headlamp mountings and the front crash structure.

A ‘runs and drives’ note means the car moved under its own power when it was checked. A key was noted with the car. Running condition describes a single moment, and standing or work done since can change it.

The record shows a salvage title. A title of this kind usually means the car was written off as a total loss after damage.

Registrations, changes of owner, inspection results and accident claims together make up what is called a car’s history. A car’s past rarely shows on the paintwork: a well-repaired accident or water damage that was dried out is easy to miss.

Regular oil changes and timely work on the timing belt or chain decide how well an engine copes with age. A petrol engine in good order starts cleanly, idles evenly and pulls without hesitation. The automatic gearbox should respond smoothly and without delay; jerks, slipping or hesitation on a test drive need investigating.

A history check works by VIN because the number never changes, unlike registration plates and owners. This car’s identification number is 1N4BL4DVXKC110090.

A VIN report gathers what different sources know about a car, such as the number of owners, mileage readings, damage and any branded title. A repair paid for in cash at a small workshop leaves no trace in any database, so no report can list it. However complete the paperwork, only an inspection shows the condition of the body, suspension, brakes and electrics today. For this 2019 Nissan Altima 2.5 SV, the sensible next step is a history check on VIN 1N4BL4DVXKC110090.