When choosing a used car, what really matters more, the current condition or the history?
Obviously, I am not talking about cases where the car is wrecked or falling apart. I am just curious what is better to choose if the choice is between a car in good visual and technical condition but with a sketchy history, and a car with a clear history but age-related issues.

I also think you cannot really separate these things, but if you have to choose a priority, history still matters more. Good exterior condition can be restored for relatively little money, but hidden issues after serious accidents, mileage rollback, or legal problems can show up later and cost a lot. Checking the history by VIN through services like is very useful here, and honestly I think it should be a mandatory step before buying a car. This kind of check lets you see accidents, number of owners, mileage, and other important details the seller might not mention.