Frequently Asked Questions

A vehicle history report summarises the recorded history of a specific vehicle based on official government and insurance databases. For USA cars it shows title records, accident history, odometer readings, and recall status. For Japan cars it shows auction history, inspection grades, and MLIT registration records.

A Full Report includes: overall vehicle grade (A–F), AI-generated plain-English summary, title history with all recorded brands, odometer history, accident and damage records, theft records, open safety recalls, market value estimate, Uganda URA import eligibility check, and for Japan vehicles: auction grade, auction house records, and Shaken validity.

A seller can tell you anything about a car. CarHaki accesses official government databases that record what actually happened to the vehicle, regardless of what the seller claims. If a car was in a flood, declared a total loss, or had its mileage rolled back, those events are recorded in databases the seller cannot alter.

No report can guarantee perfect mechanical condition. CarHaki reports show the recorded history, but not all damage is reported to databases. We always recommend an independent mechanical inspection from a qualified mechanic in addition to a CarHaki report.

A salvage title means an insurance company declared the vehicle a total loss, typically after a serious accident, flood, or theft. Salvage-titled vehicles can be cheaper to buy but may have structural weaknesses. Banks in Uganda typically do not finance salvage-titled vehicles.

An auction sheet is a condition report produced by independent inspectors at Japanese car auctions. It records every dent, scratch, rust spot, and mechanical issue along with an overall grade (S, 4, 3.5, 3, 2, 1, R, RA). It is highly reliable because it was produced independently before the car was exported from Japan.

A VIN (Vehicle Identification Number) is a 17-character alphanumeric code that uniquely identifies every vehicle made for the American market. You can find it on a metal plate visible through the windshield on the driver's side dashboard, or on a sticker inside the driver's door jamb.

A chassis number is the identifier used for Japanese vehicles. Unlike the 17-character American VIN, Japanese chassis numbers are 8–14 characters and follow the pattern of a model code followed by a serial number (e.g. ZZT240-987654). They appear on the firewall between the engine and cabin.

A number shorter than 17 characters is most likely a Japanese chassis number. Select Japan as the country of origin when searching. CarHaki will attempt a Japan chassis search for numbers between 8 and 14 alphanumeric characters.

No results can mean: the vehicle predates electronic records; the identifier was incorrectly transcribed; or the database has no record for that vehicle. No results do not necessarily mean a bad history. Contact us at support@carhaki.ug for assistance.

Currently CarHaki supports vehicles from Japan (chassis number) and the United States (17-digit VIN). These two countries account for the majority of used vehicle imports into Uganda. Support for UK and Singapore vehicles is being developed.

CarHaki accepts MTN Mobile Money, Airtel Money, and Visa or Mastercard payments. All prices are in Uganda Shillings (UGX).

On checkout, select MTN Mobile Money, enter your number in 256XXXXXXXXX format, and click Pay. You will receive a payment prompt on your phone. Enter your Mobile Money PIN to confirm. Report generation begins immediately.

Report generation usually takes 1–3 minutes. If more than 10 minutes have passed, contact us at support@carhaki.ug with your transaction reference number. We will investigate and either deliver your report or process a refund.

Once a report has been successfully generated, it is non-refundable because the cost of retrieving data from third-party providers has been incurred. If generation failed after payment, we will regenerate or issue a full refund. Contact support@carhaki.ug within 7 days.

Yes. Dealer accounts can purchase bulk credit packs at reduced rates. A Starter Pack of 10 reports costs UGX 600,000 (saving UGX 150,000). Larger packs of 25, 50, and 100 reports offer even greater savings. See our Dealer Programme page for full details.

CarHaki uses a penalty scoring system starting at 100 points. Points are deducted for each negative finding: salvage title (−40), flood damage (−35), not actual mileage (−30), rebuilt title (−20), major accident (−20), theft (−20), open recall (−10 each), minor accident (−8). Final score: A=90–100, B=75–89, C=60–74, D=45–59, E=20–44, F=0–19.

A salvage record is serious but not an automatic disqualification. The key questions are: Was it repaired and does it now have a rebuilt title? What was the nature of the damage? CarHaki always recommends a thorough independent mechanical inspection for any salvage-history vehicle.

A significant discrepancy between recorded mileage and the seller's stated figure is a serious red flag that may indicate odometer tampering, which is illegal in both the USA and Japan. CarHaki flags odometer discrepancies clearly. We strongly advise against purchasing a vehicle with suspected odometer fraud.

An open recall means a safety defect has been identified by the manufacturer and not yet repaired. For a vehicle already imported to Uganda, contact the manufacturer's regional office to enquire about local remedy options, or have a qualified mechanic assess the severity. Read the recall summary carefully before proceeding.