What doesn't Carfax tell you?
Asked by: Lizeth Considine | Last update: August 18, 2025Score: 4.1/5 (60 votes)
What information does CARFAX not provide?
CARFAX receives accident information from thousands of sources, but not every accident or damage event is reported and not all reported are provided to CARFAX.
What doesn't get reported to CARFAX?
Many scenarios can lead to information not appearing in a CARFAX report. These situations can include but aren't limited to: Police weren't called in to write an accident report. A repair facility doesn't report to any of CARFAX's data sources.
Does everything show up on CARFAX?
Not all information is reported to CARFAX. The CARFAX Vehicle History Report should be used along with a pre-purchase vehicle inspection and thorough test drive.
Does CARFAX report everything?
CARFAX does not have the complete history of every vehicle. A CARFAX Vehicle History Report is based only on information supplied to CARFAX. Other information about the vehicle, including problems, may not have been reported to CARFAX.
If a CARFAX HAS THIS, LEAVE IMMEDIATELY | 5 Red Flags
Will a Fender bender show up on CARFAX?
Do fender benders show up on Carfax? The Carfax Vehicle History Report will not include the record of a minor accident like a fender-bender if there is no official documentation. However, there is a bigger concern if the accident was not just a fender-bender but caused significant damage to the vehicle.
Does CARFAX show repair history?
CarFax reports can provide a lot of valuable information about a used car. From catastrophic events such as flood damage and airbag deployments to important details such as major repairs and the last reported mileage, a CarFax vehicle history report can quickly steer you away from the worst used cars out there.
Do dealerships lie on Carfax?
The dealer may alter the Carfax report to make the vehicle's title appear clean. The dealer may not be responsible for the inaccuracies on the Carfax report; however, he may have had reason to believe that the information was false.
Can I log my own oil changes on Carfax?
When log in to CARFAX Car Care, you can add your own service records, including records for services that you've completed yourself. Simply click on the "Add Service Record" button in your Service History. However, this information will not be included on the CARFAX Vehicle History Report.
Does a police report show up on Carfax?
In most cases, accidents are reported to Carfax through police reports. It does not matter the severity. Anytime the event is reported, it will appear on the vehicle history report.
Does hitting a deer show up on CARFAX?
A deer accident does not affect a car's value any more than any other kind of accident. With proper repair the car should be put to rights. Obviously, if not repaired the car's value will take a significant hit. A CarFax or similar history report will disclose the accident.
Does Jiffy Lube show up on CARFAX?
It doesn't anything other than time to post records to Carfax. Jiffy Lube (and likely hundreds more places like it) figure it's not worth theirs to upload the record.
Does CARFAX show engine replacement?
In this day and age when Carfax is listing as much "information" on its reports as possible (some of which may or may not be entirely substantiated depending on one's interpretation of a repair or accident), the fact that an engine has been replaced will more than likely be on the report.
Do all car repairs get reported to CARFAX?
Reporting directly to CARFAX is optional for auto repair shops, so some do it while others don't.
Do dealers have to disclose accident history?
Under California law, car dealerships are prohibited from lying about a vehicle's previous accident history. If the dealer failed to disclose known material accident damage, you might have a potential auto fraud claim.
How to check oil change history?
Check the service history on the CARFAX Report
The records are displayed in a clear, easy to read format which details the date and location of the maintenance, as well as which service was performed.
Why does some service not show up on Carfax?
If your service history is not showing up in CARFAX Car Care, you may have serviced your car at a shop that is not a CARFAX Service Network participant.
Does Carfax tell you the current owner?
Carfax does not however report the name or personal information of any owner of the vehicle. If a dealer that utilizes and aligns with Carfax ever owns the car then it will often show that dealer's name, the lack of a dealer's name being present however does not mean that a transaction was not run through a dealer.
Does Carfax list every oil change?
No. A Carfax report will only show maintenance reported to carfax, or recorded in databases that carfax accesses for their reports. This is true for every type of accident, repair, maintenance item, sale, purchase or other event that Carfax reports.
Are Carfax reports ever wrong?
This is where Carfax and AutoCheck can run into issues. Their data feeds aren't real time, and not every dealer, repair shop, or vehicle owner reports back to them. Worst of all, occasionally people will do nefarious things so that their Carfax report doesn't show accurate information.
Why do dealers use Carfax?
CarFax reports and AutoCheck reports are valuable tools for consumers who are buying used cars. They can provide information about a vehicle's history, such as whether it has been in an accident, has a salvage title, or has been odometer rolled back.
Is there a fake Carfax?
Beware of fake CARFAX reports: they can get you into trouble. Don't be tempted by cheap imitations – protect yourself with genuine CARFAX reports. A fake* CARFAX report may seem like a good way to save money, but they can put you at risk.
Does Tires Plus report to CARFAX?
For example, Tires Plus does not report any service records to Carfax and they are big here in Florida. Some people might be silly enoguh to take a German car to Tires Plus (or someplace like that) for an oil change and service.
Does CARFAX say clean title?
A clean CARFAX® report means the vehicle has a clean car title and that no major issues have been reported with the vehicle. No outstanding liens are present. There has been no salvage, rebuild, or recall from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. No flooding or fires have occurred.
Is there a free alternative to CARFAX?
VinCheck.info is a free alternative that provides information about a vehicle's history, including title details and recalls.