Is Car Fax legit?

[ppfd]

I'm asking this in the 3rd. gen. due to the truck I am looking at. I punched in the VIN and it told me important files have been found, could be bad, could be good? Is this a ploy to get you to buy a report? Is this worth the $20. 00, I'll buy one if you all recommend it. Or, if someone wants to help a brother out. . I'll pay a few bucks and have one of you all do it.

 

[thejeepdude]

The report is good, but most likely the items they will tell you are not important (date of xfer between owners and/or lien holders, etc)... however it's good peace of mind, although not foolproof. It would surprise me if someone with a subscription doesn't see your post, PM you and run the carfax for free.

 

[JCleary]

Yes, it's a ploy to get you to buy a report.



At the same time, it *is* legit.



Basically it shows you every DMV transaction with that VIN, including salvage titles.

 

[ppfd]

Thanks guys, does it show options on the truck? is there a way to check that as well?

 

[RTuvell]

I punched in the VIN and it told me important files have been found, could be bad, could be good? Is this a ploy to get you to buy a report? Is this worth the $20. 00, I'll buy one if you all recommend it.

This is a CarFax ploy to get you to purchase their report. 9 out of 10 times that I have purchased the CarFax report the information has been very limited but all positive. CarFax would not necessarily know everything about a vehicle so they are not fool proof. However, they are really the only game in town when it comes to researching the history of vehicles. I always get a CarFax report when I am considering the purchase of a used vehicle.



As someone else mentioned it is common to find individuals on the Internet who have subscribed for unlimited CarFax reports and will run the reports for you free of charge. If the vehicle you are considering is on a dealer's lot, the dealer should provide you a free copy of the CarFax report since all dealers subscribe to CarFax.



The CarFax report does not show the options that came on the vehicle from the factory, it shows only the history of the vehicle relative to public documents such as registration, reported accidents, smog checks, title changes, etc. If you get the VIN of the vehicle you should be able to contact the vehicle manufacturer and get a printout of how the vehicle was equipped when it left the factory.

 

[ppfd]

Thanks again, so if I call or email dodge with the vin they can tell me what is exactly on the truck? Not to sound dumb but, this truck I am looking at is on ebay and has a car fax link, these things can't be rigged by the dealer can they? I have spoken to the dealer and he seems on the up. But, when I am spending this much I can't be too careful.

 

[RTuvell]

So if I call or email dodge with the vin they can tell me what is exactly on the truck?

Yes, how the truck was factory equipped. If the vehicle you are considering is sitting on a Dodge dealer's lot they should be able to do this for you.

This truck I am looking at is on ebay and has a car fax link, these things can't be rigged by the dealer can they? I have spoken to the dealer and he seems on the up. But, when I am spending this much I can't be too careful.

Using a link provided by someone else could be rigged by whoever supplied the link. But I've never heard of it happening with a CarFax report. However, you implied that the vehicle you are considering on eBay is being advertised by a "dealer" not a "private seller". You should be able to contact the dealer and ask for a free copy of the CarFax report since all dealers subscribe to CarFax.



If in doubt, you could always go to www.carfax.com with the VIN, by-pass the seller's link, and run CarFax yourself.

 

[ppfd]

I will do diffenitly do a carfax myself. Thanks again for all the help. I may be a CTD owner by next week!

 

[klenger]

When I sold my 01. 5, I paid for the carfax report myself and made it available on my website to anyone interested in it.

 

[Cattletrkr]

Ask your local dealer to run the VIN through DC's system. That'll tell you if it's ever been in for service/warranty work and everything else. It is however limited to ONLY dealer provided service.

 

[aggieLR]

I don't hold much faith in CarFax reports. A buddy of mine bought a totalled Jeep from an insurance company. After he restored it, he was going to sell it, so we checked CarFax to see if they had flagged it. Nothing. It said it was clean, so I won't waste the money on it.

 

[DMcClenaghan]

CarFax seems like a good idea, but I used it once for a used MoPar van. . it came up clean, but some subsequent research revealed it was a THEFT RECOVERY. Would not have purchased the van if this had been in the report, but no problems so far. Is my experience unique?

Good luck!

DM.

 

[RJOL]

I have used Car Fax on just about every used vehicle I have bought in the last few years. It isn't perfect, but it's better then nothing. If your looking at several vehicles, buy the option for using Car Fax for 30 days.

 

[hammersley]

What I don't understand about Carfax is HOW do they get

the data? For example why are they allowed access to this material, I mean does the auto repair place enter it - WHY would they there is no law to do ao. This is like there is some big fake computer system like at 24's CTU!

 

[catoiler]

My 92 Explorer we bought new and for fun I ran a carfax on it and it showed that it had odometer fraud because of the amount of miles my wife was driving based on smog check reports!

 

[RTuvell]

the data? For example why are they allowed access to this material, I mean does the auto repair place enter it - WHY would they there is no law to do ao. This is like there is some big fake computer system like at 24's CTU!

My understanding is that CarFax obtains their data predominately from public records. Such things as vehicle registering, licensing, title changes, official smog checks, reported accidents, and recall repairs are public records available in the public domain. CarFax also solicits and accepts data from anyone knowledgeable about the history of a vehicle if you can prove the information is authentic.



On the other hand, if the accident is never reported, if the flood damage is never reported, if the vehicle is totalled then restored and never reported, and the list of unreported activities goes on.



My advice is to never count on CarFax to be a complete history of a vehicle. It is just another piece of information to consider when making your purchasing decision.



FYI, I always get a CarFax report when considering the purchase of a used vehicle!

 

[RankRam]

CarFax was worth the money for me!



I was about to buy a used Jeep Cherokee from what I thought was an honest trustworthy person. I must say I'm usually a good judge of character, well i was wrong with this guy.



It turns out that this freshly painted three year old Jeep was a police unit! You know how they use a their units.

 

[JBlock]

I bought a suburban on ebay, It was listed as Lemon, Strange history too. Well let the dealer talk me into, We took dealer after i left for overseas again. It took a long while to get it srt out, worst of it was felty inside (dirty) has dry out windows deal all around.



Later I found it was relisted, orginal buyer walk off the lot as he was scheduled to pick it and the raditor was out. Yes we had an andifreeze leak. 95% repaired but still use antifreeze.

than 18 months ago. lots of power with 454, the engine is strong.



So it might be worth the 20 dollars.

 

[RJOL]

Twice I've rejected a used car based upon the Car Fax history... Both of the dealers said they were locally owned (Washington State) vehicles they had taken in trade. One said it was a one owner. Both turned out to be registered by multiple owners, and worst of all, they had a history of coming out of the East Coast road salt belt. The point has been made... Car Fax is a tool. I have also taken used cars to a local mechanic and had them do a check of all the systems, including compression checks. If your depending on the salesperson or private party to be honest, you are going to get burnt sooner or later... .