CARFAX and AutoCheck are two key tools when purchasing a car from the USA – they provide access to the full vehicle history, including accidents, mileage, number of owners, service records, and title status. CARFAX is more popular, with a larger database and more details. These reports will help you avoid cars with rolled-back odometers, severe damage, or registration issues. Checking the history is essential before bidding.
When buying a car from an auction in the USA, one of the most important steps is to check its history to ensure there are no hidden problems that could affect safety or repair costs. There are several tools available for thoroughly checking the vehicle’s history: CARFAX and AutoCheck. Unlike European reports, American vehicle histories are exceptionally detailed and incredibly useful when making a purchase. These reports include not only information on accidents and repairs but also mileage data, number of owners, service history, and potential mechanical damage. With these reports, you have full control over the vehicle’s history, allowing you to avoid costly surprises.
CARFAX
CARFAX is one of the most popular services offering vehicle history reports. This service gathers data from various sources, including government agencies, dealers, repair shops, and insurance companies.
What does a CARFAX report include?
- Accident and damage history: The report shows whether the vehicle has been involved in an accident, how many times it has been repaired, and what type of damage occurred.
- Number of owners: CARFAX provides the number of owners the vehicle had and how long each owner kept the car.
- Vehicle usage: You can find out whether the car was used for private purposes or as a commercial vehicle (e.g., rental, fleet).
- Mileage: The report shows the history of the vehicle’s odometer readings, helping detect potential odometer rollbacks.
- Insurance claim reason: You can learn if the vehicle was deemed a total loss by the insurance company, indicating significant damage.
Advantages of CARFAX:
- Provides a complete history of the vehicle, including accidents, services, inspections, and so-called “clean” titles.
- Has a large database, making it one of the most accurate tools for checking car histories.
Disadvantages of CARFAX:
- There may be missing data in the reports if the vehicle was not registered with U.S. agencies (e.g., for cars bought at auctions).
- The service is paid, and a full report costs anywhere from several dozen to several hundred dollars, depending on the scope of the information.
AutoCheck
AutoCheck is a competing platform offering similar vehicle history reports. It’s particularly popular among those looking for cars at auctions. Like CARFAX, AutoCheck gathers data from many sources but focuses more on details related to vehicles that have been listed for sale or participated in auctions.
What does an AutoCheck report include?
- Accident and damage history: AutoCheck informs you whether the vehicle has been involved in any accidents and rates their severity.
- Commercial usage: The report shows whether the vehicle was used for commercial purposes (e.g., as a delivery vehicle), which could affect its technical condition.
- Vehicle condition rating: AutoCheck provides a condition rating for the vehicle based on available historical data, helping to determine whether it's worth investing in.
- Legal status of the vehicle: AutoCheck can indicate whether the vehicle has “title issues,” meaning there are legal problems related to the ownership title (e.g., no clean title or the vehicle is reported as stolen).
Advantages of AutoCheck:
- Has an excellent database of vehicles listed at auctions and for sale, making it one of the most reliable sources of information for auction cars.
- Often cheaper than CARFAX, offering good-quality reports at an affordable price.
Disadvantages of AutoCheck:
- Less detailed than CARFAX, especially regarding the history of vehicles that were not listed at auctions.