Hey,
Every year, millions of people buy used cars.
And almost every one of them does one thing before handing over their money: they Google something like "how to check if a used car has been in an accident" or "VIN check before buying."
That search happens constantly. It's not seasonal, it's not a trend, it's not going anywhere. People have been buying used cars for a hundred years and they'll be buying them for a hundred more.
Here's the thing about that search, almost nobody answers it well. And the companies that do answer it pay a surprisingly generous commission to whoever sends them the customer.
Why I'm Handing This To You
A friend of mine was about to buy a car. He asked me to help him figure out the manufacturing date from the VIN.
I started searching. And every single result was a VIN checker website asking for $20 to "unlock" the full report.
I had some free time, so I dug around and figured out how to decode it myself for free. It took way longer than it should have, the free methods are scattered, technical, and badly explained. Next time, honestly, I'd probably just pay the $20.
That stuck with me. If a random guy like me almost paid $20 just to find a manufacturing date, how many people are paying that same $20 every single day, for every used car they're considering?
Then a few days later I was browsing ClickBank, and VIN check offers were sitting right there in the top offers: high commissions, consistently performing. That's when it clicked.
I'm not going to build a car content site. It's not my world. I write about online income, not bumpers and transmissions.
So here it is. Yours.
The Blueprint
The model is simple: build a content site or YouTube channel around used car buying, and recommend a VIN check service through your affiliate link every time someone's about to make a purchase decision.
Here's why this specific niche works so well:
The affiliate commissions are unusually good. CarVertical pays starting at 25% of each sale, with a 90-day cookie window, meaning if someone clicks your link today and buys a report three months later, you still get paid. EpicVIN advertises commissions up to 50%. Reports sell for $20–$40 each. That's $5–$20 per sale, and someone buying a used car will often check 2-3 vehicles before settling on one, multiple commission opportunities from a single reader.
The content writes itself. Every used car model has its own "what to check before buying" content. "2018 Honda Civic - what to look for before buying used." "Is a salvage title car worth buying?" "How to check if a car was in a flood." Each of these is a searchable, evergreen topic with a buyer at the exact moment of decision, the highest-intent traffic there is.
The format is flexible. This works as a blog with SEO content, a YouTube channel reviewing used cars and mentioning VIN checks, or even short-form content, TikTok and Instagram videos showing "things to check before buying a used car" with the affiliate link in bio.
Step by step:
Pick a content format - blog, YouTube, or short-form video.
Pick a starting niche - could be general used car buying, or specific (trucks, a specific brand, classic cars).
Sign up for carVertical and EpicVIN affiliate programs - both are free and approval is fast. Or browse ClickBank for VIN check offers - they consistently show up as top performers in the automotive category, often with higher payouts than the direct programmes.
Create content around "before you buy" moments - used car checklists, red flags, how to verify a VIN, model-specific guides.
Place affiliate links naturally - "before you commit to this car, run a VIN check here."
Repeat across dozens of car models and topics. Each piece of content is a small, permanent asset.
Why Right Now
Used car prices have stayed high and unpredictable, which means buyers are more cautious than ever and more likely to research before buying. That caution is exactly the moment a VIN check recommendation lands well.
At the same time, this is a topic with almost no creator competition. The existing players - carVertical, EpicVIN, VinAudit, rank for their own brand names and generic "VIN check" searches. They're not making YouTube Shorts about "5 things to check before buying a used Toyota Corolla." That long-tail content space is wide open.
And because this is evergreen, used cars aren't going anywhere, content made today keeps earning for years.
The One Thing That Makes It Work
Place the recommendation at the moment of decision, not before it.
Don't open with "use this VIN check tool." Open with the buyer's actual fear — "this car looks great, but here's what the seller isn't telling you." Walk through the red flags. Build the tension. Then, naturally: "this is exactly what a VIN check reveals in seconds — here's the link."
The recommendation works because it solves the anxiety you just created. That's the whole psychology of affiliate content that converts.
Go Build It
Sign up for the affiliate programmes today, it's free and takes ten minutes.
Pick your format. Write or film your first piece of content around one car model or one buying mistake.
Go.
Talk soon, Kris
P.S. This is the kind of idea that looks boring on the surface and that's exactly why it works. Nobody's racing to build a VIN check content site. Which means whoever does it first gets a long runway before anyone notices.
P.P.S: This post was written using Wispr Flow. It’s the best thing for productivity out there.
