I am starting the search for my next car and i would like to check certain ones out better than i have in the past. But. Carfax reports are 45$ each now.
Anything as good and cheaper? Any members here have cheaper way to get an actual carfax?
I am starting the search for my next car and i would like to check certain ones out better than i have in the past. But. Carfax reports are 45$ each now.
Anything as good and cheaper? Any members here have cheaper way to get an actual carfax?
For accident info, they all buy data from the same insurance database. However I find Carfax the best at having service history.
Just remember that even Carfax misses half or more of all accidents, so still due your proper research
I've used https://cheapcarfaxreport.net/ several times with no issue. $45 is ridiculous.
I like badvin.org They can find prior auction photos and the history usually is identical to carfax at way less $
So CarFax is the weird one out, they do maintain a separate database IIRC. Most everyone else is just selling access to the NMVTIS database. That link has a number of public accessible options that will pull a report for you, and they can be quite cheap. Take your pick, there is some variance in prices and features / how good the report is.
I did have an old Mercedes that I freaked out about because it said it had a lien on it from over a decade ago (and no title, I bought it from someone who had been in the newspaper -- and not in a good way). Turns out, it wasn't an issue, I disclosed it to the next owner and he was still able to get a title no problem -- probably a clerical error somewhere. I made $500 on the flip anyway, so nothing to really complain about, minus not really getting to drive a cool 190E.
We learned after taking the CX-5 to my detail guy, there are certain things that dealers don't have to report. Apparently the driver side was repainted. No crash damage, my guy thinks it was keyed.
He used to work in a dealer body shop and shared all kinds of stuff with me.
I've never tried it but I've heard good things about the very cheap carfax reports on Etsy like this. They have a bunch of good reviews, probably worth trying.
FWIW, we just changed our data system at the shop where I work, and IT just uses Carfax for vehicle service history.
Our old system already submitted services to Carfax, but now we actually see it. I like it a lot, as it makes writing up scheduled maintenence recommendations a lot simpler, and makes us look better as a result, because we can provide a more knowledgeable path forward for maintenance. (We see that you had your spark plugs changed 20,000 miles ago at the dealership, so you're set for a long while there, but we see no records of Y or Z, etc)
Carfax can be a lot more than just collisions or title transfers. You know how certain cars are more valuable the thicker the stack of maintenance records is? Carfax lets you see that.
Autocheck is their main competitor, but there is absolutely no replacement for a good PPI, preferably with someone that can spot prior bodywork
I used epicvin last time, but the reports were meh compared to the detail in carfax. Depends what you're looking for. Basic title check great. Service reports, pictures from past sales, etc... other services are better.
There's a Canadian forum called red flag deals, and there's always somebody on there re-selling them for between $5 - $15. I'm sure there's an American version of that somewhere.
talonian said:I've never tried it but I've heard good things about the very cheap carfax reports on Etsy like this. They have a bunch of good reviews, probably worth trying.
I took one for the Team and ordered a carfax from these guys ,
less than $2 and it came in a few minutes ,
I got to see that my local Tire shop reports to Carfax , not a big deal but they sure did not ask me !
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