2015 NISSAN LEAF S VIN 1N4AZ0CP8FC320506

This Nissan Leaf S was built in 2015. The drivetrain is fully electric. This example is fitted with front-wheel drive. Every figure for this car is given as it appears in the source data.

The clock stood at 110,407 miles when the data was entered. A clock converted from miles to kilometres should be documented, since the swap can hide the true mileage. The number on the clock proves little by itself; earlier figures logged at services and inspections are what make it believable. Figures carry most weight when they come from independent sources: workshops, inspection stations and past title paperwork.

When the car was recorded, it showed front-end damage. Whether the damage has been repaired since, and how well, is not something a damage entry can show. Given the kind of damage entered, a mechanic should look first at the radiator support, the headlamp mountings and the front crash structure.

When it was checked, the car could not be driven. A key was noted with the car. A condition note describes the car at one moment; months of standing or later work on the car can change the picture in either direction.

The car carries a transfer document in place of a title. Without a title certificate, registering the car can take extra paperwork and checks.

A car’s history answers three questions: who kept it, how it was looked after and what went wrong along the way. Pieces of a car’s history sit with registries, dealers, workshops and insurance companies, and none of them sees the whole picture. Much of a car’s past cannot be seen: a good body repair leaves no obvious mark, and neither do years of hard driving.

The battery is the most expensive part of an electric car, so the share of its original capacity still available should be measured. Traction batteries and their wiring are sensitive to impact and water, so a damaged electric car should not be driven again until its battery system has been checked.

A VIN never contains the letters I, O or Q, which could be mistaken for digits; its 17 characters identify the maker, the model and the individual car. The VIN 1N4AZ0CP8FC320506 belongs to this 2015 Nissan Leaf S. A VIN that differs between the documents and the car, or shows signs of tampering, is reason enough to walk away.

A VIN report shows what has been logged: earlier registrations, odometer figures, damage entries, branded titles and theft checks, wherever such data exists. The past is on file; the car’s condition today is a job for a mechanic, who can check the structure, underbody, electrics and any repairs on a lift. With this 2015 Nissan Leaf S, the first step is a look at the history behind VIN 1N4AZ0CP8FC320506.