Once you're armed with knowledge, you can ask the seller questions.Of course, there's no guarantee that a seller is going to be honest about the vehicle's history. Spend some time researching the vehicle. That's why we provide features like your Approval Odds and savings estimates.Of course, the offers on our platform don't represent all financial products out there, but our goal is to show you as many great options as we can.Vehicle history reports provide details like the salvage title, number of previous owners and reported accidents, which can alert you to possible red flags in the vehicle’s history.A number of websites, including Carfax and AutoCheck, offer Getting a vehicle history report is a good idea whenever you’re If you want to buy a used car from a private seller, a vehicle history report might alert you to problems you didn’t realize existed. For example, the cost for six Carfax reports is $99.99. If your dealer refuses to work with you to help you make an informed purchase, you may want to find a seller with a better reputation and a more buyer-friendly approach (especially if you're not well-versed int he automotive industry.At the end of the day, it never hurts to have as much information as possible. If a body shop makes repairs and fails to update the vehicle's history, that incident won't show up in your report. That said, smaller accidents aren't guaranteed to show up on Carfax reports. Some issues may have never been reported, or Carfax or Autocheck may not have access to certain information.There's always going to be a certain amount of risk involved in buying used vehicles. Likewise, if someone has had a fender-bender and fixes their vehicle themselves or privately without telling the insurance company, you won't see that on the report either.Unfortunately, this means that a vehicle could theoretically have prior damage without it showing up in the report. Carfax also receives data from less common sources too, including auto auctions, police and fire departments, and collision repair shops. Many sellers will provide one gladly; just make sure that you're genuinely interested in the vehicle, as the seller may have to pay for the report out of pocket.If you're buying privately or the seller declines to make a report available, it's up to you if you want to spend the money. Image: Woman standing outside of a car, holding paperwork and talking to a couple sitting in the car Those who prefer a highly detailed report may want to spend a little extra on Carfax reports. So, if you simply want to make sure that the car isn't stolen, for example, you may find choosing the cheaper option: Autocheck.To determine the best course of action, start by reviewing your goals. The extra cost of Carfax gives you priceless peace of mind, knowing that you've used the most comprehensive option. With the guaranteed buyback program, if they made a mistake on your vehicle history report, they will buy the vehicle back from you. AutoCheck notes on its website that its reports may not provide details on every accident a vehicle had if the accident damage isn’t reported to AutoCheck.A vehicle history report also doesn’t provide information on how the car runs. That way you have the freedom to generate reports on any vehicle that sparks your interest, without having to dwell on the cost. It Carfax is more well-known than Autocheck and is so named because the company was founded in 1984, before the Internet, when it faxed reports to customers. AutoCheck, a part of Experian, is trusted by auto industry professionals for the quality of our data when they buy and sell cars. Do you want a highly detailed overview of the vehicle, or do you simply want to check to make sure the sale is legitimate?Are you spending a significant amount of money on a long-term daily driver, or are you simply getting the cheapest possible beater to get you from point A to B? As of this writing, Carfax did not offer any similar service.Autocheck provides much of the same information as Carfax, however Autocheck provides registration and title data from all 50 states, as well as the District of Columbia. While there are many benefits to buying used, doing so also means you'll want to take a peek into the vehicle's background as part of your research before making a decision. It's up to you to determine if an Autocheck report is enough to meet your needs, or if you prefer a more robust detailing of the vehicle in question.AutoCheck's 25 reports in 21 days plan can be an economical way to check the history of a variety of vehicles you're interested in. If the vehicle has a lien against it, your Carfax report will acknowledge it so you don't accidentally purchase property that technically doesn't belong to the seller due to outstanding debt. Product name, logo, brands, and other trademarks featured or referred to within Credit Karma are the property of their respective trademark holders. The report that’s best for you depends on your individual needs and where you are in the Regardless of which vehicle history report you choose, remember to follow up by taking the car for a test drive and getting it inspected by a mechanic before you © 2007–2020 Credit Karma, Inc. Credit Karma® is a registered trademark of Credit Karma, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Carfax and AutoCheck vehicle history reports provide important information about a car’s past that can help you identify potential problems. This has been AutoCheck's mission since it debuted over 10 years ago, and it is a mission that continues through relationships with trusted industry leaders such as … Carfax sources include motor vehicle agencies, auto auctions, body shops, mechanics, insurance companies, police and fire departments, and car dealerships.But all of this information comes at a cost — Carfax reports are pricier than AutoCheck reports. For many used car buyers, that kind of reassurance is well-worth the higher cost of admission. Image: Young man wearing sunglasses and driving his Jeep with the top down However, if the seller isn't willing to pay for the report, you may want to look elsewhere. Additionally, Carfax does state that if there's a mistake on your vehicle history report, they will buy the vehicle back from you.However, even using both Carfax and Autocheck doesn't guarantee that you're going to discover every existing or potential issue.
So while each car is assigned a score of 1 to 100, a score of, say, 85 isn’t necessarily good.Getting a vehicle history report is a good first step in the car-buying process, but don’t stop there.