The Low-Down on Carfax Reports

If you thought faxes were out of date, you wouldn’t be completely incorrect. Sharing physical documents via fax has gone by the wayside. However, when it comes to buying a pre-owned vehicle with a clean title, Carfax reports have never been more important.

The two are very different and the distinction between a fax and a Carfax is more than just a play on words. Keep on reading to learn more.

Carfax the Company

Carfax is a web-based service that provides history reports to individuals and businesses who are interested in purchasing pre-owned automobiles. Founded in 1984, Carfax has become the industry leader in providing a comprehensive database of vehicle histories in North America.

Where does Carfax Get Their Data?

Carfax is a trusted source of information because of their longtime presence in the buying and selling of used cars.

In fact, Carfax receives their data from over 112,000 data sources from every U.S. and Canadian province, including sources like:

• Motor vehicle agencies
• Auto auctions
• Fire and police departments
• Collision repair facilities
• Fleet management centers
• Rental car agencies

With their database of over 26 billion records, Carfax is able to provide history reports for any automobile or light truck from the model year of 1981 or later using the unique vehicle identification number (VIN).

What Info Do Carfax Reports Share?

Carfax reports include a wealth of valuable information. The reports are heralded for guiding consumers on their decision-making process with information like:

• Accident and damage indicators
• Point of impact a severity scale of accidents
• Title information, including clean, salvaged or junked titles
• Flood damage
• Number of owners
• State emissions inspection results
• Service records
• Vehicle use (i.e. taxi, rental, lease etc.)
• Odometer readings
• Recall history

Essentially, there is very little that Carfax doesn’t know about the vehicle you are interested in purchasing. They are the all-knowing source when it comes where and what used vehicles have been experienced.

Searching for a Car With a Clean Title

One of the most important criteria customers look for is a clean title. A clean title is a status given to a vehicle so long as:

• It has not been salvaged or junked
• It has not experienced any flooding or fire
• The odometer matches the report
• The vehicle has not been reported stolen

We understand that buying a used car can be cumbersome and overwhelming. A detailed Carfax report, in combination with a dedicated sales expert from Prieto Automotive, are two of the best ways to ease your mind.

We believe that shopping for a used car should not be a negative experience. 

The Carfax Guarantee

Carfax is rarely ever wrong. Their information is vetted heavily and should be considered as trustworthy.

However, mistakes do happen. The Carfax Buyback Guarantee reduces the risk of buying a used car.

If the report fails to include a DMV-issued branded title (i.e. flood or fire damage, odometer problems, salvage title), then Carfax will buy back the vehicle for the full price of purchase.

Shopping For a Used Car?

Buying a brand-new car sometimes is not the most economical option. On the other hand, purchasing a used car is a fantastic way to find a car that fits your lifestyle and your budget.

If you were told to avoid buying a used car because of mechanical problems, or because the status of the vehicle would be unknown, we at Prieto Automotive are here to tell you otherwise.

How To Get a Carfax Report

Buying a reliable used vehicle with a detailed history has never been easier than with Carfax. With Carfax, you can search for a vehicle using a wide array of filters in order to only pull up options that fit your criteria, such as:

• Number of owners
• Accident history
• Car service records

Buying a used vehicle with Prieto Automotive is a haggle and hassle-free experience. We provide a free Carfax report for all of our vehicles, so you can know exactly the status your future car is in.

We want you to be as informed as possible so that you can feel confident and happy with your purchase. There are no tricks here.

And if you need to, we offer online financing, so you can take control of the car-buying process.

We Buy Used Cars Also

At Prieto Automotive, we are not just in the business of selling safe and reliable used cars. We also work with customers to relieve them of their used vehicles for a price where all parties involved are content.

To sweeten the pot, for the right vehicle, we may even be able to make cash offers in order to get you paid quicker!

Whether you are in the market for a used vehicle, or it’s become time to sell your beloved and trusty steed, please don’t hesitate to reach out. Together, we will get you back on the road and feeling so happy that you chose to do your business with Prieto Automotive.