Man Test Drives Used Car, Feels Something Off. Then He Runs VIN Through Google Gemini: 'Don't Get Scammed By Used Car Dealership'

A used-car buyer says a test drive that “felt off” led him to uncover salvage history using Google’s Gemini, highlighting how vehicle-condition intuition can flag hidden risks. In a TikTok posted by content creator Porter (@porterehurd), he described driving a car that looked perfect on paper but “didn't like how it drove.” Instead of paying for VIN-history sites behind paywalls, he ran the vehicle identification number through Gemini. The AI reportedly showed the car was bought at auction for $30,000 after front-end damage, sold at a salvage/insurance auction in 2025 in Oregon, and later relisted after repair. By May, it had been listed for $46,491, with mileage rising from 26,853 to 27,343 miles. He advises shoppers to verify VINs with AI tools while noting AI can hallucinate.