Can anyone run a Vin for me?

[spark949 24]

I’m wonder if anyone here has access to carfax or other Vin check services.  I like carfax but it’s $40 now....I’ve never dealt with the others so I’m Leary to try them. A good friend was a dealer and had unlimited, but he sold it.  Thanks...

[clueless 2,976]

Never put you faith in carfax or any of the other.

[WHX?? 48,776]

Put your faith in your eyeballs and a gut feeling...

[KC9KAS 4,741]

I agree with the above....Carfax only gives info that has been loaded into their system by insurance companies and dealer repair shops. You may get 10% of the actual repairs to a vehicle on these sites.

[Pullstart 62,787]

Now, it does depend on what we’re using the report for....  I’ve purchased two vehicles with a Carfax report.  I looked at service intervals, what shops were used, etc.  I called every shop on Norman’s report to get service records and notes before pulling the trigger on the purchase 964 miles away.  The report on my wife’s most recent Suburban suggested an imposed value above the blue book based on the excellent service history.  There was everything from religious transmission and rearend flushes to common oil change history.

[shallowwatersailor 3,213]

I just bought another vehicle and decided to run the Carfax on it. The dealer had posted the competitor, Autocheck, so it was an interesting comparison. Both actually read the same with minimal maintenance and repair info. The real value was from insurance value showing a "clean" title, and where the history of where the vehicle was registered. Most vehicles today are sold at auction rather than sold as clean trade-ins. For example, one of the vehicles that I was considering here in VA came from Upstate NY. It was noted to have had rustproofing applied. Bells going off in my head as I had to replace the rusted brake lines on my truck (manufacturers had lowered the nickel content) that was originally from PA that applies brine as a pre-treatment. GM should have been forced into a recall! Today's vehicles have thankfully a different metal formulation. With so many vehicles being caught in flooded areas recently, that would be another reason. 

 

I did pop for the three reports at $60.00 and ran our other two vehicles. There was more previous owner info on my 18-year old truck (which I already knew) than my information as i only used an independent for major work. Our other vehicle was purchased new and while under warranty, maintained by the dealer. That was lacking as well. I do keep files of receipts, etc. but only private parties would be interested in that. Last year after our move was over, I tried using my truck as a trade-in. The dealer was upfront and said they would just take it to auction to be sold at a gravel-lot dealership - but really didn't want it due to age. It only has 64K miles!

Edited May 3, 2019 by shallowwatersailor

[rmaynard 15,427]

Carfax reported that my wife's car had been in an accident. When I queried them about the report, they said that the insurance company reported it. What had actually happened was that my wife had clipped one of those yellow poles in a parking garage and scratched the paint on one of the doors. We had it repaired and because our deductible is so low, we let the insurance company pay for it. Now, if I were a potential buyer, how am I supposed to know whether the car had been t-boned, or had parking lot damage? Had I paid cash to have the damage repaired, no one would know.  Bottom line is that I never trust Carfax.

[shallowwatersailor 3,213]

5 hours ago, rmaynard said:

Carfax reported that my wife's car had been in an accident. When I queried them about the report, they said that the insurance company reported it. What had actually happened was that my wife had clipped one of those yellow poles in a parking garage and scratched the paint on one of the doors. We had it repaired and because our deductible is so low, we let the insurance company pay for it. Now, if I were a potential buyer, how am I supposed to know whether the car had been t-boned, or had parking lot damage? Had I paid cash to have the damage repaired, no one would know.  Bottom line is that I never trust Carfax.

 

Bob, Carfax did its job. You had a claim for damage and the insurance company paid for the repair. It alerted the potential buyer of an incident.  I have seen Carfax be specific to report and state where the damage occurred on the vehicle. Also the extent of damage. 

Edited May 3, 2019 by shallowwatersailor

[Sparky-(Admin) 21,300]

42 minutes ago, shallowwatersailor said:

 

Bob, Carfax did its job. You had a claim for damage and the insurance company paid for the repair. It alerted the potential buyer of an incident.  I have seen Carfax be specific to report and state where the damage occurred on the vehicle. Also the extent of damage. 

That’s correct. No reason to not trust Carfax for reporting that incident. 

  I had a small dent in one of my past trucks and I knew I would be selling it within the year so I snapped a couple pics before the body shop fixed it to show anyone who asked about the reported accident how small it actually was. 

[rmaynard 15,427]

 

 

 

35 minutes ago, shallowwatersailor said:

Bob, Carfax did its job. You had a claim for damage and the insurance company paid for the repair. It alerted the potential buyer of an incident. 

 

@shallowwatersailor @Sparky you both may be partly right. Suppose my wife had hit a pothole and had to have a tire replaced. If I was a buyer, I'd rather know about that than some minor body work. There could be underlying suspension problems related to pothole damage, yet Carfax has no way of knowing that since those things generally aren't insurance claims. As I said, I don't trust Carfax reports. Just my  worth.