CARFAX Vs. Autocheck: What Is the Most Accurate Vehicle History Report?

When choosing a used car, you want to know as much as possible about its past and previous owners. Having the VIN, you can get a detailed report either from AutoCheck or Carfax.

The most significant distinction between CARFAX and AutoCheck is that CARFAX is better for ordinary buyers of used vehicles, while AutoCheck is a good choice for tracking auction cars. But in general, these sources provide many of the same benefits: both contain fairly reliable records of a given vehicle accident and emissions history; with both reports, you can be sure to get familiar with the problematic aspects of the vehicle.

Let’s figure out the difference between the AutoCheck and CARFAX reports and which one will help you buy your dream car.

Does Carfax show more than AutoCheck?

CARFAX is collecting and classifying various information about the history of cars and other vehicles that have been recorded in the United States and Canada since 1986. The CARFAX database is updated every day and has over 5 billion reports. Carfax receives detailed information from various social and private sources: departments of motor vehicles (DMV) in the US and Canada, vehicle inspection stations, service departments, auto manufacturers, police departments, official car dealers, insurance organizations, auto auctions.

Based on this data, CARFAX provides access to information such as:

• date of manufacture of the vehicle
• body view
• motor type
• country of origin
• basic equipment
• airbag status
• number of hosts
• length of possession by any owner
• approximate mileage

Long-term partnerships with virtually all DMVs in America and Canada increase the likelihood that Carfax will note almost any moment in the operation of the bulk of the vehicles. This is why CARFAX issues a personal guarantee on some reports that the car is in good condition.

It is considered a reliable source that truly reflects the vehicle history and, at Indy Auto Man, you can get a CARFAX report free of charge for any vehicle from our inventory.

Is AutoCheck as good as Carfax?

AutoCheck is CARFAX’s main rival. It collects data on all cars operated in America and Canada and gets information from numerous sources in America, Canada, and Puerto Rico to fill the database. Autocheck provides detailed information, including car registration, technical support, completed work, sales, accidents, and facts about being in natural disaster areas.

Having entered the VIN on the AutoCheck information base, you will find out the key characteristics of the car, plus information divided into four main sections:

• The probability of major problems with the car. Here you will find reports on the defects (fire, hail, water, etc.), resales through gray markets, the loss of insurance, and the manufacturer batch reviews. You will see whether the car was abandoned, handed over for disassembly, whether the mileage was twisted, and others.
• Detailed mileage. This section contains odometer readings on a specific date: during repair work, re-registration, and other events.
• Information on how the car was used. From this section, you can learn whether the vehicle was rented, used in a car park, by police, for municipal affairs, or in a taxi company. There is also data on various episodes involving this car, abductions, and more.
• A detailed description of all confirmed incidents with dates, source, and explanation. In this section, for example, it is possible to find out the specific date and place of the accident in the history of the car.

AutoCheck uses a rating system with a hundred-point scale. The report also indicates the average rating for similar cars.

Does AutoCheck show accidents?

AutoCheck assesses the number of accidents or damage incidents, which means a report may list multiple records for the same event. However, not all accidents are reported to AutoCheck. It is advisable to have used vehicles inspected by a third party before purchasing.

Can you trust CARFAX and Autocheck?

Both CARFAX and Autocheck reports can be a good starting point but should not be the only argument to make a decision. The main weakness of these reports is that mileage and maintenance are recorded only when the owner contacts official service centers. But many US drivers prefer to address local car services. That is where the mileage and repairs are likely to pass by the databases. The history of such cars remains completely unsullied. So an empty report is not a good sign.

Carfax and AutoCheck sometimes exaggerate

There is also an opposite point of view. From time to time, entries in the AutoCheck and Carfax reports overshadow the car history. Read more about branded titles.

For example, a tree fell on a car during a storm. The insured event is noted in the information base. On the way, the stone breaks the windshield. It is also the reason for going to the insurance company. In both cases, the entries in both Carfax and AutoCheck will be similar, but in the second case, the entry will not reflect the essence of the problem. Or the previous owner sold the car through the trade-in system to a used car dealer. There was a re-registration and re-issue of the title. Carfax will show that the vehicle has had two owners.

Any report is just a way to learn more about the car history. But you should never abandon your choice only after noticing a suspicious line if the seller is ready to explain the car’s past and let you take it for a test drive. Of course, it is better to deal with a used car dealer with a solid record who values the reputation.