CARFAX VIN Review 2023 – Plans, Pros, Cons, and Alternatives

CARFAX VIN Features

You can also get a vehicle history report through your mobile device. Just download the CARFAX mobile app from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store. From there, you can simply enter the VIN and purchase the report.

Besides checking vehicle history reports, CARFAX is also known for other services.

CARFAX Used Car Listing

Used Car Listing allows you to look for your next car and get a free vehicle history report to help you decide. 

CARFAX History-Based Value

There’s also the feature called CARFAX History-Based Value that tells you how much your car is worth. This is especially helpful if you want to sell and know how much you can get for it. 

CARFAX Car Care

Finally, CARFAX has the Car Care feature, which helps car owners keep track of their vehicle’s maintenance. By signing up for a free account, you can set maintenance schedules and look for service shops near you.

Mobile Notifications

It also has an app you can use on your mobile device and get maintenance prompts and open recall alerts.

Who is CARFAX VIN Best for?

CARFAX VIN is ideal for people who are looking to check a car’s history. Specifically, you can use the vehicle history report to check on cars you wish to buy. 

It’s also useful information if you’re selling a car to a private buyer. Potential buyers feel more confident buying cars if they have solid data on the cars’ histories and prior conditions.

What Vehicle History Can You Check with App?

A CARFAX Vehicle History Report includes an extensive list of data to help you decide on your next car purchase. If you’re selling an old car, these are also helpful to get your potential buyer to close the deal. 

Some information you can find on CARFAX reports are the following:

Accident Data

These include the accident history, damage location, damage severity, records of damage repair, airbag deployment, and structural damage. 

Service History

In this section, you’ll find information on: 

• Oil changes
• Tire rotations
• Open recalls
• Brake rotor and transmission replacements
• Safety inspections

Type of Use

This section pertains to whether the vehicle has been used as a personal, rental, leased, or commercial vehicle. Also, this confirms if the vehicle has been used as a taxi or police vehicle. 

Ownership History

The Ownership History section in the report shows the estimated number of previous owners and their years of ownership. It also includes the states or provinces where the vehicle was owned in, as well as the last reported mileage. 

Finally, this section shows the odometer rollback and whether the car has a lemon or flood title. 

CARFAX VIN Fees: How Much Does it Cost to Use CARFAX VIN?

There are three plans you can choose from but selecting the package that allows you to get the most number of reports is typically the cheaper option. 

At the checkout page, you’ll also need to provide your payment method. There are 3 options:

• Credit or debit card
• PayPal
• Amazon Pay

After double-checking your information and payment details, make sure to click on Buy Now. From there, CARFAX will send you a shareable link through email where you can view the report for 14 days.  

CARFAX VIN Reviews: is CARFAX VIN Legit?

If you’re looking for a VIN number lookup platform to check a car’s history, You should include CARFAX VIN in your list. It’s a safe and legit service offered by one of the trusted companies in the US and Canada. 

Users of the CARFAX app gave it a 4.8 rating on the Apple App Store and a 4.3 rating on Google Play Store. 

People liked how the app was easy to use and that they could access other features, such as search filters. Also, other users like that they can efficiently compare cars they want to purchase. 

On the other hand, there are some unfavorable reviews about CARFAX at Trustpilot, resulting in a 2.0 rating on the platform. Some users have complaints about incorrect reports, thus having issues selling. 

Some users also claim that report contains less information than other vehicle history report providers. Despite that, you’ll find that CARFAX is still one of the best providers of vehicle check reports with its A+ accreditation at the Better Business Bureau. 

What Are the CARFAX VIN Pros & Cons?

CARFAX VIN Pros

• Has more than 100,000 data sources
• Reliable through its long history in the car industry
• Provides helpful data to improve the used car sales industry
• Accessible through a mobile app

CARFAX VIN Cons

• A single report might not be affordable – $39.99
• Has no phone support

Related: Should I Sell My Car to CarFax?

How Good is CARFAX VIN Support?

CARFAX offers relatively good customer support. You can find answers to most of the commonly asked questions on the Help Center. The information listed here is also categorized by topic, so it’s easy to look for relevant answers. 

The CARFAX website also offers other resources, such as Car Research, where you can find reviews on different brands, make, models, and years of vehicles. 

Before purchasing a used car, it’s also essential to confirm if it has an open safety recall. Fortunately, CARFAX offers this support through its Car Care program. 

Finally, the website shows you a sample report, so you know what a report looks like before completing a purchase. 

As for reaching the customer support team, you can fill out the contact form with your name, email address, and concern and send it to them. CARFAX will get back to you through email, so make sure to check your email inbox and spam folders. 

Is it Worth Checking VIN With CARFAX VIN?

CARFAX is one of the most reliable VIN check providers that’s especially useful if you’re buying a used car. Having a VIN report can help you avoid scammy buyers who try to lie about the vehicle’s history.

However, CARFAX VIN also helps if you’re selling a car. The VIN report can help you get the best deal for your vehicle.

For a flat fee of $39.99, you can check the VIN of one vehicle, 3 for $59.99, and 6 for $99.99. 

In addition, CARFAX offers other extremely useful services in buying or selling used cars. 

You can even get a free Vehicle History Report if you’re shopping for your next car at the Used Car Listings section of the CARFAX website.

Although all these features and services surely make CARFAX a valuable resource, there are still some things in need of improvements. To start, the pricing for single reports might not be affordable for individual buyers. 

Also, CARFAX can do better on their customer support by offering other channels such as live chat or hotlines. 

Sites Like CARFAX VIN

CARFAX VIN vs. CarVertical

carVertical Summary

• Provides accurate results
• Only uses updated data
• Charges are reasonable
• Uses a blockchain-based damage-proof report

With sites like CARFAX VIN and CarVertical, people have more access to information about cars they are selling or buying. Both of these services offer Vehicle History Reports through its website. 

While CarVertical may seem the more affordable option, note that CARFAX VIN has more than 100,000 data sources and is a well-established company. Considering that, the latter may be more reliable, thus, preferable. 

CARFAX VIN vs. autoDNA

Another company that offers similar services to CARFAX VIN is autoDNA. You can also get vehicle history reports here before buying or selling your car. Each report from AutoDNA also includes title, accident, and insurance records. 

However, autoDNA offers a starting price of $10 per report. Since you’re paying for information, an amount this low might mean less accuracy and reliability. 

CARFAX VIN vs. AutoCheck

AutoCheck VIN Summary

• Extensive list of data sources
• The website is accessible and easy to use
• Affordable pricing for 5 vehicle reports
• AutoCheck score feature compares vehicles

AutoCheck is among the alternatives to CARFAX VIN. Both services include an extensive list of information about a vehicle’s history. These also get their data from thousands of sources. 

However, CARFAX VIN includes maintenance reports that AutoCheck doesn’t include in their reports.

CARFAX VIN FAQ

What is CARFAX VIN?

CARFAX was first introduced in 1984 in Missouri to provide vehicle history reports to buyers and sellers. From its first database consisting of 10,000 data, this service now gets information from over 28 million records in its database.

Since its inception, CARFAX has provided vehicle reports to millions of customers in the US and Canada. 

What is VIN?

VIN or Vehicle Identification Number is a combination of 17 characters and a unique identifier for each manufactured car. 

Where to find the VIN in a vehicle?

You can find the VIN on either the door jamb or base of the windshield at the driver’s side of the car. The VIN is also stamped on the car’s frame inside the hood and engine. Finally, you can also check it on the sticker in the trunk, near the spare tire storage. 

The VIN is also included in your car’s paperwork, such as title, state registration forms, manual, and insurance policies.  

Are CARFAX VIN reports instant?

Yes, you can instantly generate a report using a car’s VIN or license plate numbers. 

Is there a Canadian CARFAX?

Yes, CARFAX is also available in Canada. 

What happens if the CARFAX report is wrong?

CARFAX will correct the information at the vehicle owner’s request.