When buying a used car, many people turn to a Carfax report to learn more about the vehicle's history. Carfax is a well-known company that provides reports about cars, including details about past accidents, maintenance, and more. But, the big question is: can you trust a Carfax report? In this blog, we’ll break down what Carfax reports offer, what they miss, and how to use them wisely when shopping for a car. Let’s get started!

What Is a Carfax Report?

A Carfax report is a detailed document that gives information about a car's history. It is used to help buyers know more about the vehicle they want to purchase. The report includes:

• Accident history: Carfax will show if the car has been in any reported accidents.


• Service records: It may show how often the car was serviced or if it received regular maintenance.


• Title information: This tells you if the car has a clean title or if it has ever been salvaged, meaning it was badly damaged in the past.


• Odometer readings: This helps you make sure the car’s mileage is accurate.


• Ownership history: The report will show how many people have owned the car before.

What Can You Trust in a Carfax Report?

Carfax reports gather data from many sources, like insurance companies, car repair shops, and state motor vehicle departments. Here are some parts of the report you can usually trust:

• Accident records: If the accident was reported to an insurance company or the police, it will likely show up in the report. This can help you avoid cars that may have been in major crashes.


• Odometer readings: The odometer information is helpful because it shows how much the car has been driven. If the mileage looks too low or too high compared to the car’s age, the report will highlight it.


• Title status: Carfax reports are good at showing if a car has a clean or salvaged title. A salvaged title means the car was once damaged badly and repaired, which could lower its value and make it riskier to buy.

What Carfax May Miss

Even though a Carfax report is helpful, it is not perfect. Here are some things that might not show up:

• Unreported accidents: If an accident was never reported to an insurance company or the police, it will not be in the report. Some people may fix their cars privately, without going through insurance, which means Carfax won’t know about it.


• Minor repairs: If a car has had minor repairs done that didn’t go through insurance, such as fixing small dents or scratches, these won’t show up on a Carfax report.


• Service records: While some service records are included, not all repair shops report to Carfax. This means that some important maintenance might be missing from the report.

Why You Shouldn’t Rely Only on Carfax

Carfax can give you a lot of useful information, but it shouldn’t be your only source when buying a used car. The report is just one piece of the puzzle. Here are a few reasons why you shouldn’t rely only on Carfax:

• Unreported damage: As mentioned earlier, some accidents or repairs might not be in the report. Always inspect the car yourself or take it to a trusted mechanic to make sure everything is in good condition.


• Carfax errors: Sometimes mistakes happen, and the data in the report might be incorrect or incomplete. For example, there may be a typo in the mileage, or the car may be marked as having an accident when it didn’t. This is rare, but it can happen.


• No substitute for a test drive: The Carfax report cannot tell you how the car feels to drive. You need to take the car for a test drive to check for any issues. Listen for strange noises, make sure everything works, and see how the car handles on the road.

How to Use a Carfax Report Wisely

So, how can you make the most of a Carfax report? Here are some tips:

• Use it as a guide: Think of the Carfax report as a helpful guide, but not the only tool you need. It’s great for learning more about the car’s past, but don’t let it be the only thing you look at when deciding to buy.


• Get a pre-purchase inspection: Even if the Carfax report looks perfect, it’s always smart to take the car to a mechanic for an inspection. They can spot any issues that might not show up in the report.


• Ask questions: If something in the Carfax report looks strange or confusing, ask the seller. For example, if the car has had multiple owners in a short period of time, find out why. It could be a red flag.


• Check other reports: Carfax is not the only company that offers vehicle history reports. You can also look at reports from other companies like AutoCheck to compare the information.

Final Thoughts

Carfax reports are a great tool for learning about a used car’s history. They give you important details about accidents, ownership, and maintenance. However, they are not perfect, and some information may be missing. That’s why it’s important to use the Carfax report as part of your research, but not rely on it completely. Always inspect the car yourself, get a mechanic’s opinion, and take the car for a test drive before making your final decision. By doing this, you’ll be in a much better position to buy a car that’s safe, reliable, and worth the money.

In the end, you can trust a Carfax report to give you valuable information, but remember, it’s just one step in the process of buying a used car. Make sure to do your own research and stay smart when shopping for a car!