2018 FORD FOCUS SE VIN 1FADP3K2XJL207837

This Ford Focus SE is a 2018 model. Power comes from a 2.0-litre petrol engine with four cylinders, rated at 160 hp. Power reaches the wheels through an automatic gearbox. The specification is taken from the source data.

The record gives the mileage as 120,794 miles. Turning back an odometer takes little skill and leaves no visible trace, which is why earlier figures matter more than the display.

No damage type appears in the source data; that shows what was entered, not what the car has been through. Paint depth, panel gaps and the underbody show whether the body has been repaired.

When checked, the car could be started and driven under its own power. A key was noted with the car. Running condition describes a single moment, and standing or work done since can change it.

The car carries a clean title. There is no salvage or similar mark, so the car was never recorded as a total loss.

A car’s history is the sum of what has happened to it since it was new, and most of it has left a trace on paper somewhere. The paperwork is kept by different bodies – registries, workshops, insurance companies and lenders – so the history of one car is spread across many places. A clean, polished car can still hide a serious accident, a flood or years of hard use.

A cold start, the colour of the exhaust smoke and any oil leaks tell a mechanic a good deal about how an engine has been treated. On a petrol engine, a rough idle, misfires or a warning light on the dashboard need looking into. The automatic gearbox needs its fluid changed at the manufacturer’s intervals, and invoices should show that it was.

The VIN is a 17-character code assigned at the factory: it identifies the manufacturer, the model and its variant, and ends with a serial number unique to the car. The VIN on file for this car is 1FADP3K2XJL207837. A VIN that differs between the documents and the car, or shows signs of tampering, is reason enough to walk away.

What a history report can list depends on what has been documented about the car: registrations, mileage readings, damage, branded titles and theft reports. However complete the paperwork, only an inspection shows the condition of the body, suspension, brakes and electrics today. Before any decision, check what is known about VIN 1FADP3K2XJL207837.