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LTA Log Card vs a Full Vehicle History Report

The log card proves the car's registration, COE and ownership. A chassis-number history report adds decoded specs, a stolen-vehicle check and worldwide safety recalls. They're not rivals — they're two halves of a proper check.

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LTA log card versus a full vehicle history report in Singapore

The LTA log card (Vehicle Registration Card) and a Carlytics vehicle history report answer different questions. The log card covers Singapore registration: make and model, COE category and expiry, road tax and previous owners. A Carlytics chassis-number (VIN) report covers the car itself: a decoded factory specification, a stolen-vehicle check, open worldwide safety recalls, and independent mileage records where they exist. Used together, they give a complete picture. Full reports S$12.90, one-time payment.

What this report is — and isn't. A Carlytics report is not the log card and does not reproduce it. It works from the 17-character chassis number (VIN) and does not display LTA inspection results, Singapore workshop records or a live local odometer feed. What it adds is the independent layer around the log card: a decoded factory specification, a stolen-vehicle check, open worldwide safety recalls for your make and model, and mileage history only where independent international records exist for that chassis.

What the Log Card Covers

The log card is the Vehicle Registration Card, Singapore's official record that a vehicle is registered and taxed. It sets out the make and model, the registration and original registration dates, the chassis and engine numbers, the COE category and expiry, the road tax status and the number of previous owners. For a Singapore buyer it is essential and non-negotiable: never buy a car without seeing the log card and confirming the details on OneMotoring. What it is not, however, is an investigation into the car's past or its condition.

What a Vehicle History Report Covers

A chassis-number history report starts where the log card stops. From the 17-character chassis number, Carlytics decodes the exact factory specification — engine, body, trim and origin market — so you can confirm the car matches the listing. It checks the chassis number against a stolen-vehicle database and lists open manufacturer safety recalls for that make and model worldwide. For a car that was registered abroad before Singapore, it can surface independent international mileage records so a rolled-back odometer stands out. These are checks on the car's identity and history, not its Singapore paperwork.

Why They Are Complementary, Not Competing

Think of it as two questions. “Is this car properly registered and taxed in Singapore, and how many owners has it had?” is answered by the log card. “Is this car what the seller says it is, is it flagged as stolen, does it have open safety recalls, and does its mileage hold up?” is answered by the history report. A clean log card with an unchecked chassis number leaves the second question open — and that is exactly where costly surprises hide. Using both closes the gap.

How to Use Both Before You Buy

Ask the seller for the log card and confirm it on OneMotoring. Take the 17-character chassis number and run the Carlytics check — free for decoded specs and active recalls, S$12.90 for the full report with the theft check, recall detail and any independent mileage records. Then view the car, read the odometer in person, and arrange an independent workshop inspection before you pay a deposit. The log card confirms the paperwork; the history report confirms the car; the inspection confirms the condition. Together they are the sensible way to buy a used car in Singapore.

What we check for when preparing a report

Carlytics is the largest online database of used vehicle records. It contains more than a billion data points from all over the world.

Damage

Damage

We check if the car has been in any accidents or had serious repairs. Damage can lower the car's value and cause safety problems. Our report helps you avoid cars with hidden damage that sellers might not tell you about.

Mileage rollbacks

Mileage rollbacks

We look for signs that the mileage might have been changed. Some sellers lower the mileage to make the car look newer. We check mileage records from different databases to make sure the numbers are honest.

Specs & equipment

Specs & equipment

We list the car's original features and equipment. This helps you see if anything is missing or changed. You'll know exactly what the car should have when it left the factory.

Safety

Safety

Manufacturers typically issue safety recalls to fix harmful defects. Make sure your car doesn't have any before taking it on the road and also learn its general safety rating.

Natural disaster

Natural disaster

Check if the vehicle has been damaged in floods, hurricanes, or other natural disasters.

Stolen car database

Stolen car database

We check police and insurance records to see if the car has been reported stolen. Buying a stolen car can lead to big legal and financial problems. Our report gives you peace of mind.

Photos

Photos

If available, we include old photos or auction pictures of the car. <br />These photos can show past damage, repairs, or changes that you might not notice in person.

Market value

Market value

We compare prices from many sources to show the car's fair market value.<br />This helps you know if the price is good or too high, so you can make a smart deal.

Trusted in 47+ countries worldwide

Carlytics aggregates vehicle data from 47+ European countries, pulling from national registries like Finnish Traficom (5M vehicles), Dutch RDW, Czech ISTP, and Danish DMR. Combined with NHTSA, EU Safety Gate recalls, and 348,000+ real listings, the database covers 900M+ vehicles.

Access data from national registries,
insurance databases, law enforcement and more.

Trusted Worldwide

Why Run a VIN Check Before Buying a Used Car?

An estimated 30-50% of used cars sold cross-border in Europe have tampered mileage. Carlytics catches odometer rollbacks, undisclosed accident damage, stolen-vehicle flags, and open safety recalls by scanning 900M+ records across 47+ countries -- all from a single 17-character VIN, starting free.

Don't risk thousands on a used car with hidden problems. A free VIN check takes seconds and can save you from costly surprises.

Detect Odometer Fraud

An estimated 30-50% of used cars in Europe have tampered mileage. A VIN history check reveals odometer rollback and mileage discrepancies that sellers try to hide.

Uncover Hidden Accident Damage

Structural damage from past accidents may not be visible during a physical inspection. A vehicle history report shows collision records the seller may not disclose.

Verify Stolen Vehicle Status

Over 600,000 vehicles are stolen in the EU each year, many resold across borders. Our stolen car database check confirms the vehicle is legally clear before you buy.

Check Cross-Border Import History

Vehicles imported from abroad may have different specs, undisclosed damage, or missing service records. Trace the full registration and import history with a VIN check.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the log card and what does it cover?
The log card — the Vehicle Registration Card (VRC) — is Singapore's official registration record for a vehicle. It shows the make and model, registration and original registration dates, chassis and engine numbers, COE category and expiry, road tax status, and the number of previous owners. It is the definitive proof that a car is registered and taxed in Singapore, and it is the first document to ask any seller to produce.
So do I still need a vehicle history report?
They answer different questions, so most careful buyers use both. The log card confirms the car's Singapore registration status. A chassis-number history report confirms things the log card does not: the decoded factory specification, whether the chassis appears in a stolen-vehicle database, and whether there are open manufacturer safety recalls for that make and model. On imported cars it can also surface independent international mileage records. The log card tells you the car is legitimate on paper; the history report tells you more about the car itself.
What does a vehicle history report add that the log card doesn't?
Three things above all. First, a decode of the 17-character chassis number into the exact engine, body, trim and origin market, so you can confirm the car matches its description. Second, a stolen-vehicle database check. Third, open manufacturer safety recalls for that make and model worldwide. Where the car was previously registered abroad, the report may also show independent mileage records. None of these are on the log card, which is a registration document, not a history investigation.
Does the log card show accident or mileage history?
No. The log card is a registration record — it does not certify that mileage is genuine, and it is not an accident or damage history. That is a common misunderstanding. To assess mileage and condition you need the current odometer read in person, any independent mileage records that exist for the chassis, an inspection, and honest questions to the seller. The history report contributes the independent chassis-level checks; the log card contributes the registration facts.
Do you hold LTA inspection results or Singapore odometer records?
No, and we won't imply otherwise. Carlytics does not display LTA inspection results, Singapore workshop records or a live local odometer feed. It works from the 17-character chassis number to decode specs, check theft and worldwide recall databases, and show independent international mileage records only where they exist. Always confirm current mileage, the log card and a recent inspection in person before buying.
How much does the vehicle history report cost?
S$12.90 — one-time, no subscription. A free chassis-number check is always available for decoded specifications and active safety recalls. Used together with the seller's log card, it is an inexpensive way to remove the blind spots that a registration document alone leaves.
Where do I find the chassis number for the report?
It is printed on the log card and stamped on the car — on a plate in the engine bay or door pillar, and often visible through the windscreen on the driver's side. It is a 17-character code. Confirm the number on the car matches the log card, then enter it to run the check.