Anyone have access to carfax reports?

[ChadTower]

I'm going to look at a truck tomorrow night that I could end up buying... standard story, need to check the history.  Anyone have an unlimited access at the moment and willing to run one for me?

Thanks!

[RayB]

It was exposed recently that their reports are often very inaccurate.

[ChadTower]

It was exposed recently that their reports are often very inaccurate.

Source?  I'm willing to consider it if you can show it's more than just netspeak.

[RayB]

Source?  I'm willing to consider it if you can show it's more than just netspeak.

News article, and there was a whole tv news segment about it as well.
http://www.cbc.ca/consumer/story/2009/01/15/marketplace-carfax.html

CBC Marketplace is pretty dependable and has done a great job busting scams, exposing con artists, and righting unfair consumer treatment by businesses.

After seeing that news report, I feel like Carfax exists to support the dealerships, not the consumers.

[smalltownguy]

I work for an auto dealership. I can get your the Auto Check vehicle history report if you give me the VIN.

[CheffoJeffo]

I'm going to look at a truck tomorrow night that I could end up buying... standard story, need to check the history. 

Why not ask the relevant questions ?



Can you haul sheets of MDF with it ? How ?



Will it fit in your basement ?



Does it come with the code for the noisy ?




Do you have it yet ?











How about now ?

 

[SavannahLion]

Source?  I'm willing to consider it if you can show it's more than just netspeak.

News article, and there was a whole tv news segment about it as well.
http://www.cbc.ca/consumer/story/2009/01/15/marketplace-carfax.html

CBC Marketplace is pretty dependable and has done a great job busting scams, exposing con artists, and righting unfair consumer treatment by businesses.

After seeing that news report, I feel like Carfax exists to support the dealerships, not the consumers.

I have heard that car titles can be "scrubbed" when going from state to state (or country). When I first heard about Carfax many moons ago, this scrubbing was cited as exactly the reason why such a service came into existence. As much as it disappoints me, I guess it's a good thing to know that Carfax is probably responsible for some of the scrubbing.

I think it's interesting that the article quotes Carfax as being, "the first step to protecting yourself against buying used cars with costly hidden problems." But the rep is later quoted as saying, "I'm sorry he was mistaken." when told that the owner of the damaged truck trusted Carfax to, "let him know if the truck he was buying had any problems."

[ChadTower]

After seeing that news report, I feel like Carfax exists to support the dealerships, not the consumers.

Now I do too.  Thanks, Ray.

[ChadTower]

I work for an auto dealership. I can get your the Auto Check vehicle history report if you give me the VIN.

Cool guy, he got me what I needed.  Thanks!   

[ClubNinja]

Late to the discussion, but I bought a vehicle a few years ago with a clean Carfax that a trusted mechanic later discovered numerous pieces of evidence on suggesting that the entire front end had been crushed in at one point.  I no longer place any value in the "service".

[Kevin Mullins]

A Carfax is only as good as what someone may or may not put on it. A vehicle can have been in ten accidents and not one of them will show up if no-one actually inputs it.
It's not "automatic".

Kinda like a Wiki....... if no-one inputs the information you'll just get a blank page. (clean report)

[ChadTower]

A Carfax is only as good as what someone may or may not put on it. A vehicle can have been in ten accidents and not one of them will show up if no-one actually inputs it.
It's not "automatic".

That would be acceptable if not for their marketing tactics.  They present it as a full comprehensive history of the vehicle.

[Kevin Mullins]

That would be acceptable if not for their marketing tactics.  They present it as a full comprehensive history of the vehicle.

Oh I agree.... it's a bogus scheme since they don't tell the consumer how it really works.
Hence why there are so many "clean reports".