I am looking at a used Honda Civic but the seller acts a bit strange when I ask about previous accidents. The car looks fine, but I don't want to buy a lemon with structural damage. Official reports are quite expensive if I want to check three or four different cars before deciding. Is there a more affordable way to see the VIN history without paying full price every time?

You should never trust the seller's word alone, especially if they seem hesitant. I stopped paying the full retail price for reports a long time ago because it gets too costly when shopping around. I found carfaxforsale which offers the same detailed report for just three dollars. It covers accident data, airbag deployments, and ownership history, so you can see if the car was ever totaled or used as a taxi without breaking the bank.