Carfax.com versus Autocheck.com

thanks for the heads up

 

Jeff
Thanks for the heads up. Can you run a number for me to see what Autocheck comes up with, maybe you can email it to me at [email protected]. CARFAX told me to watch out for the odometer since there was a number that was entered wrong at one point. Other then that everything checked out fine.

VIN #ZFFWA20B000059649

Thanks!

pills11.com )

 

I started using autocheck about 4 months ago. Much more accurate than carfax. Carfax is a mess.

So...what ya getting

 

Carfax guarentee's their info is true so it sound's like your friend Tipo815 has a solid case if he intend's to persue anything.

 

Thanks for the information on Autocheck. I will use them in the future.

 

I use AutoCheck, but the key reason to go with them is that they sell title insurance for $50.

Ferraris are plagued with greasers who steal a car, or roll back their mileage, or hide damage history by getting a "duplicate title" from a "clean" vehicle that looks the same.

Well, if you buy such a car on good faith after paying the $50 for the AutoCheck title insurance, then AutoCheck will pay you (they may have an $80k limit, I've forgotten...worth re-checking I suppose).

Anyway, there are a variety of reasons why a title might not be clear of liens/ loans/ taxes, etc...or even be the right title for the car itself!

AutoCheck and Carfax limit the amount of fraud that was once going on, as do the internet registries and on-line forums, but while improved, some of the greasers can still slip one through every now and again.

So title insurance makes sense. Cheap piece of mind for a reasonably-sized investment. You don't want to be at the DMV (if you don't have title insurance) when you discover that the police are impounding your "new" car for being stolen.

 

I have always preferred Autocheck. More information and I like the way that it is presented.

 

Never used Autocheck but as far as Carfax goes I think it is worthless. On the few cars I have used it on it only told me milage and when the car changed hands. Unless the car was totaled it did not say if it was in an accident or if it was in a flood. Unless there is a system that tells you the previous owner these reports are useless. Knowing some guys in the salvage business I hear various accounts on how to wash the titles and scrub any accident info on cars. So it all goes to buyer beware and look before you leap.

 

These companies rely on getting information from paper trails. If I wreck a car, why would I inform anyone? I recently banged up a car and it went to the body shop/ paint shop and then the dealer. The title is still clear and no one will ever know it was involved in a collision.

If you look over a car with a mechanic who knows what he's doing, you can see repairs. If the repairs are so good that it's hard to tell, then rest assured that the car is sound.

Be your own investigator

 

I agree 100%

http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/2007/01/carfax_class.html

http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/2006/10/carfax_facts.html

BTW in Canada, CarProof is the only way to go.

 

RUN BOTH REPORTS ALWAYS! I worked in the car industry for a long time, trust me when I tell you neither is anywhere near 100% accurate (to the good and bad). You should know that autocheck does cross ref. auto auctions as well. That can be a good thing and sometimes a bad thing (many auctions will report frame damage if only a fender was repainted). Carfax now has dealers signed up that will report service work that was done. If the mileage was written down wrong on the repair order, carfax shows a mileage discrepency. In Arizona we have a big problem with the emission testing stations putting incorrect mileage on the dmv computer (or rounding off mileage) that shows up as well. Run both reports, combine that with a good ppi and info on f-chat to get a real picture of how good/bad the car is.

 

Good advice. Vibe from the current owner, a close visual inspection, service records and if all clears you've got a 90% chance or greater that you will have a trouble free car. Miss any of this stuff and your odds begin to drop.