Carfax vs. AutoCheck

[The Critic]

http://www.cbc.ca/marketplace/2009/vehicle_history_reports/main.html

Not news to me, but may be to some. Carfax from my experience, is only good for maintenance records. Autocheck provides better information as Unibody damage from Manheim gets reported to autocheck.

 

[bretfraz]

We use AutoCheck at work. I feel it's a better product for our customers. Experian mines databases deeper and has access to data that other companies do not have, like info from auctions.

CarFax is more consumer friendly, especially for folks who have never looked at information like this before. AutoCheck's interface is not as slick but the information is more extensive.

No history report is a bible and should never be depended on as the Final Word on a car, but the info can be helpful for car shoppers.

 

[dishdude]

Neither are perfect, but will filter out rental cars. I prefer to find private party one owners, then you don't need any of these services!

 

[Bill in Utah]

Autocheck. But we forewarned that neither are going to catch all accidents that should be reported.

Bill

 

[fdcg27]

Carfax reported that our '97 Accord was a one owner vehicle, although having been sold new in Columbus, it was then titled in KY at some point, and we are at least the second owners.
Carfax reported that the van was involved in a minor accident in 2003. It was actually a pretty hard hit in the rear, hard enough to break both front seatbacks, occupied by my wife (pax) and older son (driver), and took a month to repair, largely because there was a running battle over costs between our body shop and the other driver's insurer.
It would actually have been less expensive for the insurer to have made me an offer and salvaged the vehicle, although seven years and 90K later, I'm glad it was fixed, since it has given great service.
Carfax probably beats nothing, but has not been perfectly accurate in my personal experience.

 

[demarpaint]

I had lots of experience with car fax when I worked selling cars. It is OK at best. Accidents take a long time to get recorded some are missed totally. I had an 85 E-150 that was legally parked and totaled by a drunk driver. I got paid out for the damages, by the drunks insurance co. I paid salvage value and did the repairs myself. Three years later I sold it, and ran a car fax on it, no record of the accident. The police were involved.

Best way to check a car is rack it and check it over yourself, if not pay someone. Service records are a plus but can be faked.

 

[mopar_monkey]

the problem is that there is no requirement for any insurance company or body shop or police agency to report to them so accurate info is spotty at best.

 

[steveh]

I read somewhere that many fleet and rental cars are self insured so the accidents don't show up on the Carfax.