LONG BEACH, Calif. -

With vehicle histories being extremely important to the transparency of the used-vehicle market, AIM Mobile Inspections says it can help make sure that used models are in good condition before being purchased by dealers or consumers.

As vital and helpful as used-vehicle history reports can be, they can only reflect the information that has been reported to them by such places as state departments of motor vehicles or insurance companies, AIM argued.

That’s where AIM can come in and help.

“In a comparison of 255 inspected used vehicles with 10 or more panels of previous repair, we found 134, or 52.5 percent, had accident damage or repair work that wasn’t on the vehicle history report," says Eric Widmer, AIM Mobile Inspections’ vice president of sales and operations.

“These reports are only as good as the information that gets reported. If it’s not forwarded to the vehicle history databases from one of the agencies, DMVs or insurance companies, there’s no way a vehicle history report can have that information, which is critical for someone buying a car,” he added.

While the company noted that vehicle history reports have "revolutionized" used-vehicle shopping, AIM argued that there limitations to the data provided by these reports.

Things like unreported accidents, data discrepancies, insufficient information and a company not offering data prevent a report from being "completely accurate," AIM argued.

"Further, there’s little or no double-checking or confirming the data, or it may be reported incorrectly due to human error. Sometimes there’s a delay between an event occurring and the information being reported, which allows time for an unscrupulous seller to sell the car to an unsuspecting consumer," AIM noted.

Rosemary Shahan, who is the founder of Consumers for Auto Reliability and Safety, said: “Very often, cars that have been damaged don’t show up” in history reports.

“It’s not required that states give them (vehicle history report companies) the data in a timely way,” she continued.

Widmer added: “A physical vehicle inspection can help a buyer and/or seller get the complete picture. We can find evidence of a problem that may not show up in the vehicle’s history report.”

Widmer went on to point out: “The best solution is to combine a vehicle inspection with a vehicle history report. You’ll have what’s been reported about the car and a report on its current condition, which will allow you to make the most informed decision, whether buying or selling.”

Shahan added: “Get your own trusted, independent technician” to conduct the inspection.

“It will be the best money you spend in the entire transaction,” she concluded.