Used to when buying a car I'd use auto check to get a history report but they've upped their prices to a ridiculous level, carfax even more so. Used to it was $40 for unlimited checks for like 21 days. Guess those days are gone. Is there any other decent sites that aren't as expensive to use?
Vehicle history reports
- Thread starter ram_man
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AutoMechanic
Site Donor 2025
What I do is take the plate number or vin number and add it to my CarFax garage it gives you ability to see reported maintenance records that’s about all you can see these days for free.
Harder to find now, but there's still people out there selling them for $6 for a carfax.
https://mbworld.org/forums/market/769475
https://mbworld.org/forums/market/769475
Well you don't throw out the baby with the bathwater. Yes we know it's inaccurate, but some info is better than no info. It's known that info might be missing because they can only report what was reported. If someone has a fender bender and does a DIY or someone fixes it that doesn't report to carfax, it won't be in the record. It's just a guide, not a 100% record of the car.
The info we want doesn't always exist, and the cost to get that limited information is more than we want to pay.
Still one of the disadvantages to purchasing a used car.
Still one of the disadvantages to purchasing a used car.
While true, I still go over the car with a fine tooth comb, go with my gut, and hope for the best. Pretty much the way we bought cars in the old days... ;-) They do help, but I can’t take them seriously. My neighbor picked up a 2015 200 with 45k for a pretty good price, and it had a shiny car fax with oil changes. Found out it was hit, and underneath the valve covers looked like it might have skipped an oil change or too. Upside was that it was for his son, and he planned to put some money into it anyways updating to his “specs”. Car was been great running since the updates.
If I buy used, I expect to put money into it, regardless of price......
I'd start by eliminating any car that doesn't come with one, rather than paying for a CarFax, actually. Of course these are dealers.
If I sold one privately I think I would offer the CarFax or provide the buyer with records from my own account.
They are a tool, but I put a premium on kept records and receipts.
I went to look at a 95 Saturn SL 1, then went home and bought a Car Fax for it. It gave me what I needed so I went back and bought it. My brother is still driving it, probably 15-16 years later.
If I sold one privately I think I would offer the CarFax or provide the buyer with records from my own account.
They are a tool, but I put a premium on kept records and receipts.
I went to look at a 95 Saturn SL 1, then went home and bought a Car Fax for it. It gave me what I needed so I went back and bought it. My brother is still driving it, probably 15-16 years later.
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When I was looking for a car this summer I planned on signing up for carfax...figured it would be like $30 for a month type thing. Nope. Price was ridiculous.
Instead I just searched around and around until I really found something that looked extremely well cared for.
Instead I just searched around and around until I really found something that looked extremely well cared for.
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Good post, I agree.
If I’m looking and a dealer doesn’t have the carfax available, I’m not even looking.
If it’s a private sale, you really can learn a lot just by the person and condition the vehicle is in. You don’t have to talk to them for an hour but they should be able to tell a few things willingly/happily. If not and the car looks suspect? Walk away. But a prideful owner will be able to tell you things honestly and maybe supply receipts or records a little bit.
I've always been able to find somebody on Craigslist that will run a Carfax for $5 or $6.
I have a guy I found on Craigslist who does that for me, I have been using him for the last 2 years and must have run some 40 Carfax reports. He pulls the CarFax from his iPHone and then takes screenshots of it, then mails it to me.
Heck in my area of metro Atlanta you're lucky to find a vehicle being sold by the actual owner. While curbstoning is supposed to be illegal(?) it's absolutely rampant. Like 70% of ads are from shady dealer individuals. Facebook nor Craigslist seem to care.
You get some of the best deals from people like that. They have the same access to inventory like the big car lots without any of the overhead. Just have to check the car out good like you should anyway.
Starting off with a big lie won't ever get my business. I'll judge that book by its cover.
And the private sellers would NEVER lie to you.
I can understand wanting one for a 3-5 year old vehicle going for $15k. But not for a $2500 15 year old relic. More concerned about the title title at that point.
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