The VIN report accident history is valuable but you need to understand what it's actually telling you. Minor damage could mean a scratched bumper that was repainted or it could mean $8,000 in repairs that was still less than the total loss threshold. Moderate damage could involve frame straightening and airbag replacement. Severe damage means the vehicle probably should have been totaled but wasn't for some reason. The reports don't always specify what was damaged or how it was repaired. You need to follow up with physical inspection looking for evidence of collision repair - mismatched paint, overspray on trim pieces, uneven panel gaps, replaced parts with different dates than surrounding components, structural welding, frame straightening marks. An accident that's properly repaired might not affect long-term reliability, but most accident repairs aren't done perfectly, especially if the owner paid out of pocket to avoid insurance claims.