Buying a Used Car? Just Say – Show Me the CARFAX!

CARFAX receives vehicle brand information from every U.S. and Canadian provincial motor vehicle agency. This information helps protect you from buying a car with a DMV-issued branded title including salvage, fire or flood damage, and mileage problems. You can lookup any Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) and get a car's reported history to CARFAX.

An auto that has been severely damaged in an accident may be reported as salvaged by the state. The CARFAX Vehicle History Report helps protect you from unknowingly buying a car that has a state-issued salvage brand.

When a new vehicle has major problems and is bought back by the manufacturer, it may be marked by the state as a lemon car. The CARFAX Vehicle History Report can help you see if a car has been branded as a lemon by a state Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). You can use the free CARFAX Lemon Check to see if a used car was reported as a lemon.

Flood damaged cars can be dangerous to drive and are often moved to other states and sold to unsuspecting buyers. The CARFAX Vehicle History Report includes flood damage titles issued by state DMVs, and you can use the free CARFAX Flood Check to see if a used auto was reported as flooded.

The CARFAX Vehicle History Report includes DMV-reported odometer problems. In addition, CARFAX does an odometer rollback check on every vehicle identification number that you run to help you identify possible odometer fraud.

CARFAX receives vehicle registration and VIN information from every U.S. and Canadian provincial motor vehicle agency. Search CARFAX Reports to help you see where and how the vehicle may have been used.

CARFAX uses proprietary technology to estimate the number of owners based on all of the records in a vehicle's history. In fact, look for the CARFAX 1-Owner Vehicle emblem on the CARFAX Report.

Higher than average mileage can affect an automobile's value, and cost of ownership. The CARFAX VIN check tells the average miles driven per year and the last odometer reading reported to CARFAX.

Rental cars are often well maintained but are driven by many people under various driving conditions. The CARFAX Vehicle History Report may tell if the vehicle has been registered by a rental company.

Prior registration as a fleet vehicle can affect a car's value. The CARFAX Vehicle History Report may tell if a car was registered as a fleet or commercial vehicle.

The CARFAX database contains accident indicators and service records from thousands of sources. Still, there may be an event in a vehicle's history that was not reported to CARFAX. We recommend that you have a car inspected by a qualified mechanic before you buy.

An insurance company may declare a vehicle a total loss, even if the damage is insufficient to warrant a salvage title by a state DMV. The CARFAX Vehicle History Report may tell if the automobile has been declared a total loss by an insurance company.

After airbags are deployed, they must be properly replaced. The CARFAX Vehicle History Report may alert you to previously deployed airbags. Always have a car's airbags inspected by a mechanic.

Even a minor incident can cause structural damage that impacts a car's value and safety. The CARFAX Vehicle History Report may show if a vehicle has suffered frame damage. Always have a car's frame or structure inspected by a mechanic.

CARFAX has millions of service records, including oil changes and other routine maintenance, which are included in the CARFAX VIN check. Remember to also ask the seller for service and maintenance records.