Vehicle History Report FAQs

Find answers to common Carfax and AutoCheck questions

A vehicle history report is a detailed document that compiles data from thousands of sources (like DMVs, police, insurance companies, and repair shops) to tell a car's life story. You need one to avoid buying a car with hidden problems like a salvage title, severe accident damage, or odometer fraud, potentially saving you thousands of dollars.

This is a key question. Both are excellent, but they have different strengths:

  • Carfax is often seen as the industry standard with more detailed service records and is well-known for its "Carfax Care" dealer network. Their reports are often considered more narrative and easier to read.
  • AutoCheck is known for its powerful AutoCheck Score, which gives a quick, at-a-glance rating of the vehicle compared to similar models. It can sometimes report on auctions and incidents that Carfax might miss, as they use slightly different data sources.
Our Recommendation: For the most complete picture, we recommend reviewing both reports.
Quick Comparison:
Feature Carfax AutoCheck
Best For Service History & Dealer Records Comparative Scoring & Auction Data
Key Feature Detailed Event Timeline AutoCheck Score (1-100)
Data Sources 100,000+ sources (dealers, shops) 500+ million records (auctions, etc.)
Title Brand Check Yes Yes
Accident History Yes Yes

No, no report can guarantee 100% accuracy. Reports rely on data being reported to them. There can be delays, errors, or incidents that are never reported (e.g., a minor accident fixed privately). A history report is a crucial tool, but it should always be paired with a professional pre-purchase inspection by a trusted mechanic.

A typical report includes:
  • Title History (salvage, junk, flood, lemon)
  • Accident & Damage Reports
  • Odometer Rollback Warnings
  • Number of Previous Owners
  • Service and Maintenance Records
  • Recall Information
  • Theft History
  • Lien/Loan Information

A "salvage" title means an insurance company declared the car a total loss, usually after a major accident, flood, or other severe damage. A "rebuilt" title means the car was salvaged but then repaired and passed a state inspection. We generally advise extreme caution with these vehicles, as they can have hidden safety issues and are very difficult to insure or resell.

The report will list accidents that were reported to police or insurance companies. Look for "Accident Reported" or "Damage Reported" sections. The report may describe the severity and location of the damage (e.g., "front left side"). Remember, minor fender-benders may not always be reported, so it's still important to have the vehicle inspected by a professional.

Major Red Flag: This means the car was submerged in water to a significant level.

Flood damage can cause pervasive and dangerous problems like electrical failures, mold, and corroded mechanical parts that may not appear for months. We strongly recommend avoiding vehicles with a flood history due to the extensive and often hidden damage they can have.

The report tracks the odometer reading over time from service records, inspections, and title transfers. If it sees a reading that is lower than a previous entry (e.g., 80,000 miles in 2022, then 60,000 miles in 2023), it will flag it as a "rollback" or "not actual mileage." Both Carfax and AutoCheck are effective at detecting this type of fraud when the mileage is properly recorded in the vehicle's history.

  • Choose Carfax if you want the most well-known report with potentially more detailed maintenance and service history. It's excellent for understanding how the car was cared for.
  • Choose AutoCheck if you want a quick, data-driven score to compare multiple cars easily and are particularly interested in auction history.
  • Best Value: For ultimate peace of mind, buying both reports gives you the widest possible data coverage and cross-references the information from two leading sources.

Not necessarily. "Clean" only means no major branded titles (like salvage) were found in the database.

The car could still have unrepaired recall issues, unreported minor accidents, or significant mechanical problems. Always get a pre-purchase inspection by a mechanic to verify the vehicle's actual condition, regardless of what the history report shows.

Our reports from both Carfax and AutoCheck are updated in real-time or near real-time. When you purchase from us, you receive the most current information available from their databases at that moment. Both services continuously update their databases as new information becomes available from their various sources.

We're here to help! While we source the data directly from Carfax and AutoCheck, we can assist you in understanding the general meaning of the terms on the report. For highly specific data disputes, we can guide you on how to contact the data provider (Carfax/AutoCheck) directly for clarification. Don't hesitate to reach out to our customer support team with any questions.

Yes, both Carfax and AutoCheck include service and maintenance records when they're reported. Carfax typically has more detailed service history as they partner with many dealerships and repair shops. These records can show you how well the vehicle was maintained, including oil changes, tire rotations, and other routine maintenance that can indicate a well-cared-for vehicle.

There's no definitive number, but as a general guideline:
  • 1-2 owners is ideal, especially if they kept the car for several years each
  • 3-4 owners is average for a 5-10 year old vehicle
  • 5+ owners may be a red flag, suggesting the car had problems that caused owners to sell quickly
Consider the context - a car with 4 owners over 12 years is different from one with 4 owners in 3 years. Also look at how long each owner kept the vehicle and the maintenance records during their ownership.

A "lemon law" title means the vehicle was repurchased by the manufacturer due to persistent defects that couldn't be repaired after a reasonable number of attempts. These are typically newer vehicles with recurring problems. Like salvage titles, lemon law buybacks should be approached with caution as they may have chronic mechanical or electrical issues that make them unreliable.

Carfax Report

Best for: Detailed service history and dealer records

  • Comprehensive service records
  • Detailed ownership history
  • Accident and damage reports
  • Title problem alerts
  • Open recall checks
Most Detailed Service Records

AutoCheck Report

Best for: Quick vehicle scoring and auction data

  • AutoCheck Score (1-100 scale)
  • Vehicle comparison tools
  • Auction history information
  • Title brand history
  • Theft records
Best Scoring System

Get the Complete Picture

For maximum peace of mind, consider purchasing both reports to cross-reference information from two leading sources.

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