Is vinhistoryusa.com scam or legitimate?

🚨 Verdict

Verdict: Suspicious — While the site has been online for years and isn’t blacklisted, there are heavy user complaints about subscription traps, unauthorized charges, and failed cancellations. Proceed with extreme caution.

📋 Executive Summary

What it is: A VIN lookup and vehicle history report site operated by “Global Informatics LLC,” offering reports via a $1–$4.95 trial that auto-renews at $29.95/month.

✅ Good signs:

Domain has existed since 2019, active since 2020 with steady snapshots.
Not found on the malicious domain lists.
Lists contact info (phone, email, physical address) and an automated refund line.
Valid TLS certificate for the domain.

⚠️ Red flags:

Subscription traps: many reports of $29.95 charges after trial, even after attempted cancellation.
Company inconsistencies: “Global Informatics LLC” vs “Car History,” Florida law in terms, Beverly Hills address, WHOIS in Iceland.
Aggressive/odd claims and upsells (“All Past Owners,” $1 “Owner Name Unlock”), which may be unrealistic depending on state privacy laws and data availability.
Widespread negative user reviews (see below).

🔍 Introduction

If you’re wondering “is vinhistoryusa.com legitimate or scam,” here’s a clear, up‑to‑date look at the facts, plus what the wider web is saying.

🧾 What We Found

About the website:

Services offered: VIN check and License Plate Lookup with a sample report, covering items like “Previous Accidents,” “Lien & Repossession Records,” “Problem Checklist,” and more. The site says data comes from “trusted sources.” See the homepage here: Online VIN Lookup | Vehicle Accident History Report | Car Title History Report.
Pricing: A 7‑day trial that converts to $29.95/month for “50 Lookups Monthly” and “50 Reports monthly.” Add‑ons include $1 PDF/Print, $1 “Owner Name Unlock,” $4.95 “Detailed Vehicle History Records.” Third‑party inspections via LemonSquad are also advertised (e.g., $220 Standard Inspection). Details: Pricing.
Contact info shown:
- Address: 9171 Wilshire Boulevard Suite 500, Beverly Hills, CA 90210
Refunds: States “Immediate, and No Questions Asked,” with an automated refund line: +1 (877) 676‑8162 and live chat option. See: Refund Policy.
Legal pages: Terms & Condition refer to “Global Informatics LLC” (also calls itself “Car History”) and say the Agreement is governed by Florida law. Privacy Policy outlines data collection and usage.

Website history:

Domain age: ~5 years (creation date 2019‑12‑05; expires 2026‑12‑05).
Wayback/Activity: First seen mid‑2020; steady activity with many snapshots, especially in 2023 (308), 2024 (345), and 2025 (31 so far).
WHOIS: Registrar NAMECHEAP INC; WHOIS privacy via “Withheld for Privacy ehf” (IS).
TLS: Certificate valid for vinhistoryusa.com (Subject CN: vinhistoryusa.com; Issuer CN: WE1).
Malicious domain checks: Not flagged.

What others say:

User reviews and independent feedback show consistent complaints, mainly around hidden charges and failed cancellations:
- 🔴 Reddit — r/Scams thread:
  
  “VinHistory is a HUGE scam… paid $1 and got only a generic car description. No way to cancel, refund bot loop.”
  
  “Paid $1… got charged $30 the next week. Cancellation impossible, had to block via PayPal.”
  Reddit — vinhistoryusa.com scam discussion
- 🔴 Trustpilot: Over 700 reviews, with an average rating of ~1.6/5 stars, many describing surprise subscription charges and poor customer support.
  Trustpilot — vinhistoryusa.com
- 🔴 Sitejabber: Rated 2.2/5 stars from ~395 reviews, with frequent reports of unauthorized billing.
  Sitejabber — vinhistoryusa.com

🤔 Should You Trust It?

Is vinhistoryusa.com a scam?

Not outright criminal scam, but widely flagged as deceptive.
Main risks: hidden recurring billing, upsells of questionable value, inconsistent company details, very poor customer experiences.
If used: only with a one-time/virtual card, and never because a buyer/seller insists you buy a report from this site (common scam tactic).

Verdict: Suspicious

If you do proceed:

Use a virtual/one‑time card for the trial, and set a reminder to cancel before it renews.
Test the refund line promptly if you’re unhappy.
Compare results with official and well‑known sources:
- Official NMVTIS portal: vehiclehistory.bja.ojp.gov
- NHTSA recall lookup: nhtsa.gov/recalls
If pressured to use this site by a third party, it’s a red flag — walk away.

📚 References & Sources