I'm sure many know this but I keep reading about Carfax reports. Carfax is not 100% and not to be totally trusted!

I won't go on and on about my experience with them as there are 1,000's of complaints on the internet. I had a car inspected with a clean Carfax and it had been in a bad accident. The inspection saved me from an expensive mistake!!

Google Carfax complaints Carfax fraud Carfax scams

Carfax problems

Buying used, pay for an inspection. JIm 0311

 

Carfax themselves state that they aren't all knowing.They inspect accident reports from many jurisdictions and insurance company claims but they realize that unless it's documented they won't know it. Worse, some insurance companies do not cooperate with CarFax either. If you can run the vehicle thru an idependent insopection as the poster recommends. Often your insurance company will offer an inspection if you ask. After all they'll probably get asked to insure it.

The good thing about CarFax is that if they show an accident or error odometer reading you knows its not a prime purchase, but if they don't, it doesn't mean its a good purchase.

 

A sympathetic service adviser at the dealer will point out things obvious to them but not a layperson. Took a used Scion from a Ford car-lot into a Toyota dealer and asked them to criticize it. I learned about "fish-eyes" in resprays and manufacturer stickers on all sheet-metal and exterior plastic.

The Scion that had a clean carfax had an all new front-clip. Would have fooled me. Didn't cost me a thing.

 

^ I did the same when searching for a used fit (eventually bought a new one). The seller let me take the car in to my local Honda to get it inspected. A manager and collision specialist were able to tell me right off the bat that the car had been repainted just by running their finger along the edge of certain parts of the car. They also visually inspected the engine and were able to tell me which components weren't OEM. This Fit had a clean Carfax. Also, the inspection was free.

 

Plus Carfax can't catch te problems paid out of pocket at some car repair services.

My old assistant manager had her car badly damaged by a friend who drove into drunk.

Rather than reporting it, the friends father offered her a loaner, $1000, and is fixing it free of charge at his shop just to save his daughter the charges.

My assistant made money and I'm betting that will never show in Carfax.

 

I agree...I don't think Carfax would be able to get this information...If everything is paid out of pocket and no accident is reported, then CarFax won't have the info.....right?

 

Some body shops report repairs to Carfax even if there's no police record or insurance claim. Most don't based on my experience.

Carfax is a good place to start, weed out the major accident damaged cars. It doesn't replace inspection.

 

Jeckle and Hyde...

There is good and bad to Carfax. I think to potential used car purchasers, a carfax CAN be a useful tool, if not fool proof.

But what I don't like about Carfax is I think it get's used against consumers on both ends. Used car dealers? Will charge more if a car has a "Clean Car Fax". Even if later it is discovered the Carfax missed something.

Conversely? Dealers also used the threat of a sullied Carfax report as a reason to lowball someone in a trade in situation. Which often times I think is unfair.

I was rear-ended about 2 months into my ownership of a NEW Honda Fit. The damage was 100% cosmetic and very, very superficial. Basically a barely blemished bumper cover....

Although it did not result in a "branded title" I have no idea whether this was an incident reported on Carfax.

If it was? Or does show up? It's going to significantly reduce my leverage as far as trade in or selling value.

I can be telling the truth...that the damage was nothing. But if someone runs a Carfax and it comes back blemished...your instantly hit with devaluing of your vehicle.

So I don't know...given the ultimate truth that Carfax if you are purchasing can miss things....coupled with the fact that if you are selling or trading in, Carfax can hurt your value...

I don't know if I'm a big fan of Carfax. I have to be selfishly Machovelian about it...if I'm buying...I want check the report...if I'm selling? I'm hoping to hell nobody reported the superficial bumper scuff....

 

The only good use for a CARFAX is to check how many owners the car has had. That is all I would trust.

 

Great minds think alike! JIm 0311

 

I disagree - Carfax helps you weed out some things, it reduces the field. If you get a bad Carfax report, you know instantly not to bother. Its not about the clean Carfax reports being 100%, but it helps to limit the field down.

Imagine if you bothered to visit or go check out cars, there's time, gas and such costs you incur... if you had a VIN and it checked bad, Carfax would have saved you of the hassle. Its a good starting point, and at the price they charge, its not bad for someone looking for a used vehicle.

If you approach Carfax as a guarantee of anything, then you're screwed, but if you use it correctly, its a useful tool.

 

Don't think you don't need to expect new cars either. I bought an integra brand-new years back, and it turns out that the whole quarter panel and paint extending down the side had been repaired/repainted. I noticed it weeks later when waxing the car and was finding tape residue along that side. The clear coat even had developed a yellow hue over time!

Supposedly dealers are supposed to report damage over a certain value, but obviously it is in their interest not to. In my case, they claimed ignorance and claimed "port damage."

 

All importers - and domestic - manufacturers maintain first rate R&R crews to take care of any 'small' shipping damages at distribution centers. Those crews repair as well as any body and mechanical crews ever. In your case, being able to discover masking tape and yellowing paint indicates repair at the dealer or likely an independent body shop hired by the dealer.
You should have hired a lawyer to peruse the dealer's and shops nearby for records of work done and prices paid. Its possible all work was done on a handshake but not too likely.
With records in hand indicating fraud you had a good chance of a free car.
PS dealers aren't required to report damages over 20%. Just buyers.

 

well, i can say that i traded in a car long time ago the same day i got it out of the bodyshop after a $5K+ repair. lol
even smelled fresh paint.

nothing showed up on carfax... needless to say, i got a GREAT trade-in value.

 

Yeah it was also a dealer trade, and I generally liked this dealer, so would have had to sue everyone (wasn't willing).

 

As long as you didn't lie on any forms declaring your car had never been in an accident, you lucked out!

 

nope, no lies. he didn't ask and there were no forms. i just handed the guy the keys and he appraised, closed the deal on the new car.

 

More important than body damage Carfax will show if a used car failed emissions testing or if its a previous rental car.

 

OK, I will agree, Carfax is of some use. JIm 0311