Trust Carfax?
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 233
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From: Korea
Trust Carfax?
A friend of mine just told me that he doesn't 100% trust in Carfax.
A few years ago he sold his late 80-early 90s model mustang LX? Modded out the kazoos and sold it to a private buyer (neighbor). Knowing the age, the buyer wasn't too concerned about a Carfax, because he knew my buddy took care of the car the entire time he lived there. So I guess there was no question of suprise.
Any how, he had frame damage to the mustang before, I think from an accident which he did disclose that to his neighbor.
The point is when does something get submitted to CarFax? When you file or claim damages/repairs to the insurance company? If someone had the money to repair serious damage w/o an insurance claim, just to avoid it from showing up in CarFax, is that possible?
My buddy pulled a Carfax when he sold his Stang, sure enough, it didn't show the damage history. Perhaps the age of the car has something to do with it.
A few years ago he sold his late 80-early 90s model mustang LX? Modded out the kazoos and sold it to a private buyer (neighbor). Knowing the age, the buyer wasn't too concerned about a Carfax, because he knew my buddy took care of the car the entire time he lived there. So I guess there was no question of suprise.
Any how, he had frame damage to the mustang before, I think from an accident which he did disclose that to his neighbor.
The point is when does something get submitted to CarFax? When you file or claim damages/repairs to the insurance company? If someone had the money to repair serious damage w/o an insurance claim, just to avoid it from showing up in CarFax, is that possible?
My buddy pulled a Carfax when he sold his Stang, sure enough, it didn't show the damage history. Perhaps the age of the car has something to do with it.
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 1,007
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No you should NOT rely on carfax completely. They have limited access to data in 23 states (they actually got sued for this), and I personally know of 2 incidents on my buddies cars that don't show up on carfax. One disconnected his odometer 3 years ago and to this day still has a clean carfax.
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 4,131
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From: "Never play games with a bitch who can play them better" NE PA
Cruise-In VIII & IX Veteran
St. Jude Donor '07-'08
They also cannot access records that are not there. If you make no claim and nothing is fixed by someone other than you---then it will not show. If you take your chances and fix it yourself---who will know because there is no report of it..
Pro
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 591
Likes: 1
From: Moore South Carolina
I always pull a Carfax, and always have the car inspected. The knowledge you gain from each is invaluable for all the reasons mentioned already, and you won't necessarily learn the same things about the car from either one.
Carfax is great for rooting out major car events - things like whether it was a dealer fleet vehicle in its early life, whether it was ever in a flood, accident, stolen, salvaged, how many times it has changed hands, etc, but even if the Carfax looks pristine, it can still be a neglected piece of crap that had its oil changed every 25K miles.
Carfax is great for rooting out major car events - things like whether it was a dealer fleet vehicle in its early life, whether it was ever in a flood, accident, stolen, salvaged, how many times it has changed hands, etc, but even if the Carfax looks pristine, it can still be a neglected piece of crap that had its oil changed every 25K miles.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 2,992
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From: Henryville IN
I bought a 99 vette checked car fax clean title. What the problem was it had just had flood damage and the carfax didnt update as soon as it should. So I did a car fax on it a few months later SALVAGE! Not what I was told but it all worked out in the end any way. Took me a year and 2k to get it fixed. (Long Story) Just keep in mind that Carfax is only as good as the data they get. 
Racer
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 493
Likes: 1
From: Goose Creek SC
Car Fax
When I bought my C5 used from a Dodge dealer I got a clean car fax on it. Later found out the car had been repainted Viper Red and it has had many problems. I would take any used Vette to have a independent inspection done before putting down any money.
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 135
Likes: 0
I agree a Carfax is only as good as the data they get. In MI, I was told the police report all accidents to C/F. Also if you are looking to buy a vette take the vin# to the dealer. They can tell you the cars service history at any Chevy dealer, any warranty work or recall that was serviced at any GM dealer.
If someone paid a shop to repair an accident and didn't have a police report or file a claim it won't show up on a carfax.
If someone paid a shop to repair an accident and didn't have a police report or file a claim it won't show up on a carfax.
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Jacks996
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 8,667
Likes: 12
From: eagle mountain lake tx
Cruise-In VIII Veteran
I pull a carfax but I still have a mechanic go over it completely. If someone pays out of pocket for the repair and than sells it, it wont show up. Just like all these katrina cars on ebay now.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 16,135
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From: Newberry FL
Cruise-In VIII Veteran
St. Jude Donor '07
Originally Posted by jacks996
I pull a carfax but I still have a mechanic go over it completely. If someone pays out of pocket for the repair and than sells it, it wont show up. Just like all these katrina cars on ebay now.
It is frustrating, but it does provide more information than nothing at all, so it is a start. I use them, but only for a starter document, I always look the car over very well and then if I have something I need further looking into, the mechanic gets a sweep.
These Katrina cars are scarey, but if a car shows up on CARFAX and it shows it is in New Orleans or the other Southern states, I would be a bit reluctant to purchase.
Just my opnion on this.
Instructor
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 196
Likes: 0
Originally Posted by middlebrookgt
I always pull a Carfax, and always have the car inspected. The knowledge you gain from each is invaluable for all the reasons mentioned already, and you won't necessarily learn the same things about the car from either one.
CarFax isn't perfect but you can get some good info from them...
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 2,094
Likes: 5
From: The 7th layer of hell - Western Washington
We verified that my Prelude had been in at least 6 different accidents and was sold privately or at auction all over the US, but CarFax didn't show anything on the record. I wouldn't trust it in the least bit...
Racer
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 333
Likes: 1
From: Mendota Heights MN
For what it's worth, when I had an unlimited access to CarFax, I checked 2 of my own vehicles that had been in accidents (not my vette) and repaired by State Farm, and both showed clean CarFax reports.
As others have said it's a good starting point only, but not to be taken as the final word on the car's history.
As others have said it's a good starting point only, but not to be taken as the final word on the car's history.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 233
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From: Korea
For peace of mind, it is going to have to cost ya.
Probably best thing to do is pay for the full point check up at GM, what about $70-90? I'm sure they can find anything you need to know. They don't pay good money to Corvette Mechanics for nothing.
Probably best thing to do is pay for the full point check up at GM, what about $70-90? I'm sure they can find anything you need to know. They don't pay good money to Corvette Mechanics for nothing.
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 4,809
Likes: 237
From: Utah
Originally Posted by btchn99
They also cannot access records that are not there. If you make no claim and nothing is fixed by someone other than you---then it will not show. If you take your chances and fix it yourself---who will know because there is no report of it..