Part 3

Your first report, start to finish

From pasting the VIN to pressing Generate — every screen, every field, in order.

Part 3 of 123 min read

Step 1 — Identify the vehicle

  1. Open a new case — From your Dashboard or My Reports, choose Open new case.

  2. Paste the 17-character VIN — The VIN pins the analysis to the exact car — not just "a 2023 Model 3," but this one. Press Decode VIN.

  3. Check the decode card — Carlarity shows what the VIN itself proves: year, make, model, body style, fuel type — plus trim, drivetrain, and engine where available.

  4. Confirm it's your car — If the card matches the car you're looking at, press Yes, This Is My Car. If not, re-check the VIN — one wrong character changes everything.

Good to know
Sometimes the decode card shows a dash for trim or drivetrain. That's normal — plenty of manufacturers don't encode the trim in the VIN at all (Ford's trucks are a familiar case: the VIN carries the F-150 series, not whether it's an XL or a Lariat). Carlarity fills those gaps from live listing data where it can, and honestly tells you when it can't. Anything filled from a listing rather than the VIN is graded accordingly — it never silently inflates your report's confidence.

Step 2 — Tell us how you're buying

Buying modeChoose it when
Negotiable dealer priceA standard franchise or independent dealer. We analyze sticker data, fees, add-ons, trade-in, and out-the-door costs.
Online fixed-priceCarvana, CarMax, Vroom and similar fixed-price sellers — price is locked, so the verdict frames as accept / keep looking / pass. (EVs, including Teslas, aren't covered yet regardless of where you'd buy them — see the Coverage page.)
Already purchased — return windowYou bought it; verify the deal before the return period closes.
Private sellerBuying from an individual — a streamlined form focused on asking price and financing.
Tip
Not sure? Pick Not sure — it defaults to negotiable dealer and you can change it later.

Step 3 — The window sticker (optional, but powerful)

If you have a photo of the window sticker (the Monroney label), upload it. Carlarity extracts packages, options, and MSRP data to strengthen the analysis — it's the single best way to firm up the vehicle's exact identity. Don't have it? Skip — the report works without it.

Step 4 — The deal worksheet

  1. Vehicle and market context — Current mileage (improves pricing accuracy), condition, ZIP code (localizes market pricing), and your state — required, because it sets your taxes, title, and registration.

  2. Vehicle price — The negotiated selling price before taxes and fees — the number the dealer quoted you.

  3. Doc fee and add-ons — Enter the dealer's doc fee and any add-ons individually (or as a lump sum). Carlarity flags items that are commonly optional or overpriced.

  4. Trade-in and payoff — What the dealer offers for your trade, and what you still owe on it. If you owe more than it's worth, that difference matters — the report will show you exactly how much.

  5. Financing terms — Cash down, APR, and term in months. A low monthly payment can come from a longer term, not a better deal — the report checks.

Step 5 — The out-the-door preview

Before you generate, the worksheet shows a live Out-the-Door Breakdown: sale price, sales tax for your state, doc fee, title, registration — the real total, plus the financed amount, monthly payment, total interest, and total loan cost. This is the number that matters, and most buyers never see it until the finance office.

Watch out
If the dealer's worksheet OTD is meaningfully lower than Carlarity's modeled OTD, ask the dealer to itemize their fees — there may be undisclosed line items.

Step 6 — Generate

Press Generate Forecast. Your report is typically ready in minutes and saved permanently to My Reports.