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5.8

Overall Score

Author: Kaitlyn Short

LAST UPDATED: February 18th, 2022

In 1986, CARFAX started with the desire to be the authoritative source of information regarding the history of used cars for buyers and sellers. Years later, CARFAX has achieved its vision in North America, with the most comprehensive history report database available for cars and light trucks. 

Millions of consumers visit CARFAX every year to research whether they are in the process of selling or buying a car. A history report can include information like: 

  • Accident indicators—like airbag deployment
  • Estimated mileage driven per year
  • Estimated miles
  • Fleet history—if it was used in a taxi, law enforcement, or rental car fleet
  • Flood damage
  • Hail damage
  • Lemon history 
  • Number of previous owners and length of ownership
  • Odometer problems and readings
  • Open manufacturer recalls
  • Rebuilt 
  • Service history records
  • State emissions inspection results
  • Structural or frame damage
  • Title information—salvaged or junked titles
  • Total loss accident history
  • Warranty coverage information

Over 100,000 data sources, including motor vehicle agencies, police and fire departments, auctions, car rental agencies, and collision repair shops send CARFAX information about used vehicles.

Keep reading for pros and cons, plus CARFAX reviews from real users. 

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The Good

  • Lemon Check Reports
  • CARFAX Buyback Guarantee
  • History-Based Value
  • Great Filter Options
  • Mobile Apps

Lemon Check Reports

Vehicle history reports can be obtained on used cars and trucks from 1981 or later, using the VIN number located on the vehicle in question. The VIN (vehicle identification number) is a 17-digit number is typically found on the side of the driver's door below the steering wheel. 

CARFAX Lemon Check Reports help used car buyers to make smart financial decisions and avoid buying a branded or salvaged titled vehicle for a bad price. 

CARFAX vehicle report fees range from one report for $39.99 to $99.99 for six reports. 

CARFAX Buyback Guarantee

A unique CARFAX guarantee helps used car buyers with peace of mind when it comes to shopping for a pre-owned vehicle. 

If you get a CARFAX vehicle report that doesn’t have a branded title reported, then purchase a car which turns out to have a branded title issued by the Department of Motor Vehicles, then CARFAX may buy back the car for the full purchase price. This is a great way to add value and trust to their service. 

History-Based Value

CARFAX offers a free history-based valuation with your zip code and VIN or license plate number. This valuation takes into account info from the car’s history without making you pay for the full report. While services like Kelley Blue Book take into account the make, model, year, and special features, CARFAX takes into account things like previous use, number of owners, accident history, registration history, and open recalls. 

Great Filter Options

You can search for your next car on CarFax.com, which includes thousands of used and certified pre-owned car listings from local dealerships. Each listing includes a free CARFAX report, so consumers can search and filter results by a number of factors, including details from the vehicle’s history report. You can choose to find a car that has only had one owner or one with no previous accidents. 

Search cars with service records or lease only. Narrow down the results until you get the exact car that fits your needs. Searches are done by your local area with an up to 500-mile radius.

Mobile Apps

You can also use the myCARFAX app on your mobile device to keep track of when you need to have maintenance performed on your car. Use your car's VIN number on the app and pull up service records, schedules for maintenance, and information on recalls. 

CARFAX will even alert you when your car is due to be serviced and help you find a mechanic nearby with suggestions and consumer reviews of each repair shop. 

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The Bad

  • CARFAX Report Pricing
  • Advertising & Sales complaints

CARFAX Report Pricing

While there are lots of free tools for car shoppers to use at carfax.com, vehicle history reports are not free. 

How much do CARFAX reports cost?

  • $39.99 for 1 report
  • $59.99 for 3 reports
  • $99.99 for 6 reports

While you can save money when you purchase multiple reports, unlimited reports are only available for partner dealerships, not for private users. 

Used cars listed for sale with CARFAX all include a free vehicle history report. Additionally, many car dealers and car finder sites provide free reports to car shoppers, including: 

However, many car finders and dealerships offer a free vehicle history report with their shopping service, including the following: 

Advertising & Sales Complaints

The majority of these complaints appear to be with advertising and sales issues and problems with CARFAX's products and services.

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The Bottom Line

CARFAX is the place to go when you want to find out about a car’s history, whether it is a car that you own or a used car that you are looking to buy. When you want to find out what repairs have been done or if it has been in an accident, CARFAX will tell you in a few simple clicks.

Each CARFAX vehicle history report is extremely detailed and the company’s database of more than 17 billion records contains every VIN in the United States. The company’s buyback guarantee helps buyers to have a bit more peace of mind when buying a pre-owned car. 

With CARFAX's mobile app, you can keep your current car properly maintained as well. 

Know what you are getting into with your next vehicle purchase with CarFax.com's products and services today. 

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Star Rating

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4.3

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187 Reviews

Review Breakdown

5 grade

60%

4 grade

26%

3 grade

4%

2 grade

3%

1 grade

7%

Sentiment Criteria

Value

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Tara Cummaquid, MA

Carfax is a joke. I updated a 750li BMW with a newer one, 2015 with 24,000 miles on it, beautiful and fully loaded. Drove it less than 5,000 miles in a 14 months, it was an extra vehicle. I am looking to trade or sell the car, (as we have a teenager coming to driving age) when I was told that the Carfax had reported damage to the rear end, 3 weeks into my ownership. The carfax also had the car reported multiple times as black, when it actually has a $5,000 customer color option. They listed the vehicle as having been registered twice in a 4 month period. I sent in for a dispute and have been going back and forth with them. They said that their "source" confirmed the "damage", This car has never seen the snow in my possession never mind a dent, scratch etc. I stated this was impossible and called my insurance company to see if something had been claimed accidentally, they said nothing on the record. I requested from Carfax, their "source", but according to the customer service, Due to contractual clauses with their sources, they do not divulge the information!! This is ridiculous, and unacceptable. I have to go further and somehow find out. So as the owner I am supposed to accept their reporting and the devaluation it does to my vehicle... NO WAY

8 years ago

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Lan Van Austin, TX

CARFAX reported that there was structural damage done to my vehicle from an accident. This is completely false information as there was zero damage to the frame or unibody of my vehicle yet they still incorrectly reported this as an issue with my vehicle. I did not know until last week when it was pointed out to me by someone interested in my car. I have been trying to sell this vehicle for over a month unaware that CARFAX had done this and consequently I have lowered the price of my vehicle by $3k because I was getting very little responses which I blame on CARFAX incorrectly listing damages to my vehicle. I will lose $3k from selling my vehicle which is how much below the value Edmonds and Kelly Blue Books suggests the car is worth based on the features and condition of my vehicle. I have sent them several emails, called and tried to get help via chat and they have never responded. They report false information and when the I repeatedly tried to contact them to get that information corrected with documentation including a letter from the repair facility, a complete report of the work done that does not show any frame or unibody damages, photos of the damage to my vehicle and a police report the still will not respond. If you have this happen to you take them to small claims court and you will win if you can provide the proper documentation. It is a fairly simple process to file your complaint with your local county court and very inexpensive as well.

8 years ago

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Rebecca Forrette Provo, UT

I purchased a vehicle in 2011 and the CarFax was clear, no accidents, so I went ahead with the purchase.I am now ready to sell the vehicle, but when I pulled a new CarFax report, I was shocked to find an accident that was reported on my car. The accident in question happened nearly a year prior to when I bought the car, but didn't start reporting on CarFax until a month after I purchased it. I've contacted the dealer and CarFax (which is BS that they only have email contact, no phone number) and they basically told me to go pound sand. They refuse to do anything or acknowledge it was a mistake on their part. We would never have bought the car if we knew it was involved in an accident, and we shouldn't have paid as much for it as we did because of the accident. It also pulls down our resell value. I think they should extend the BuyBack Guarantee to this situation to remedy their mistake. Heck, we'd be happy if they took the car for the current market value. But they think they've done nothing wrong.

10 years ago

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Francine Hall Pompano Beach, FL

Car fax reported that my air bags deployed and funny thing is I WAS NEVER IN AN ACCIDENT and the day of he incident my car was at a shop getting upholstery work done and I couldn’t buy the new car I wanted because of Car Fax not verifying the information that they put on their reports.... what a ripoff company and I say LAWSUIT worthy...incompetence... I am pretty sure I would know if I had an accident and it would have been bad if my airbags went off...what a piece of crap company...stupid incompetent people work their DO THE JOB YOU ARE SUPPOSED TO DO ...REPORT ACCURATELY

7 years ago

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David reed Overland Park, KS

Carfax wants customers to feel like they care so much about them finding a clean car w no accidents. They don’t tell customers that they overcharge dealers thousands of dollars to provide the consumer a check on there vehicles. I’m all about a company making money but if you really care about consumers make the reports affordable for your average dealer. For what they charge dealers AutoCheck is a better check on vehicles that is why most banks,lenders and Auto auctions do not check Carfax or honor any issues on Carfax. Why is that????

8 years ago

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Victor Thomason Paragould, AR

The Carfax said my Jeep had been in no accidents. Turns out the whole rear end has been replaced with salvage parts along with several parts under the hood and no telling what that i don't know about. The Carfax said if i could prove that it was wrong the dealer could be forced to buy it back. Wrong again. Basically, Carfax can say whatever they want and you are just stuck with it. Like I'm stuck with a 25 thousand dollar wrecked jeep.

9 years ago

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Martin Kubasek Písek, 314

Bought Carfax report for car bought in EU. Report cost 15E and there was just informations about 2 years of car history. The car is now 24 years old. I will never buy this report again. The information was worthless.

4 years ago

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Darryal Ray Knoxville, TN

Good luck in contacting CarFax! No phone, no email -- just an online support form that goes ignored. Sure can't TRUST their car fax reports if this is the way they screw customers.

5 years ago

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Brayden Ibert Houston, TX

I tried using CarFax to find a new car and it was the hardest service out of all the ones I used. It took forever for me to figure out how to use it because there was no customer service to be found.

6 years ago

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WT

One cannot trust CarFax 100%. Bought a used car and was shown the carfax report. It didn’t include any information on previous mechanical issues that would have made me choose a different vehicle.

4 years ago

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John M Hicks Milliken, CO

You cant call them! They have my od wrong and you cant speak to them. I have pending sale on the bad information and they could care less.

7 years ago

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A Ghamougui Carlisle, PA

Thieves... They know that they don't have competition except Autocheck, so they treat people like unprofessionally.

5 years ago

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Ariana Giles San Antonio, TX

Very expensive and practically useless! Bought a vehicle based on its car fax but it failed to mention it was more than small damage

6 years ago

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vender New Baltimore, MI

Reports are not accurate at all! beware!

10 years ago