ALT-1 Where to Find Free Vehicle History Reports
Many car dealers are becoming aware that the "new" customer is savvy shoppers. I have worked in the car business for over twenty five years, and I have seen customers evolve in well informed savvy shoppers. Dealers are starting to come around with providing the new savvy shopper with the buying tools they require, and CarFax is one of those tools. Rather than have a potential buyer go to a competitor, many dealers will supply a free CarFax. Don't misunderstand it is probably not something they will volunteer, but they will provide it if asked. If you ask and they do not agree to provide one for free, then don't bother pulling one yourself because they probably have something to hide.
If you are shopping for a used car online, you may see a Carfax emblem on the site. Some of the websites offer the sellers the option of paying a little more when listing the vehicle so the potential buyer can access a free CarFax report. I would not buy from a seller that did not offer this option. CarFax reports are a good tool to determine if the odometer has been rolled back. If the car has had multiple owners, it will show the mileage on the car each time it was purchased. You may think you are buying from an individual when you shop online, but many cars that are sold on the internet are listed by small car lots, large dealerships, and individuals that have been cars salespeople and management in car dealerships. They know the tricks of the trade, but you do not. So CarFax is one way for you to protect yourself.
When you purchase a Carfax, you are given the option to purchase a single report, or pay slightly more and get as many as you need with a certain time period. This is the best option if you are car shopping. If you are planning to look at more than one car when you purchase, which is always a good idea, then paying a flat fee to get as many as you need is the best way to go. If you were to purchase two in this time period it would cost you more than the multiple option, so if you plan to get more than two, it is like getting the rest for free.
While the information on a Carfax report is helpful, don't rely on them completely because not everything is reported. For example, a tree falling on a car can cause more damage than a finder bender but it may not be on the report. A few months after Katrina, my wife decided that she wanted to buy a new car. Being in the car business, I thought that buying new was not the way to go, so she agreed to wait until I found just the right used car. I found a current year model with very low mileage, and drove it home for her to see. She examined every inch of that car, and noticed a slight imperfection in the paint. She insisted that the car had been wrecked and I told her that the CarFax did not show that. We agreed that she should call the previous owner. When she called, she did not tell the disclose that she was related to someone at the dealership. She first asked if the car had ever been wrecked, and she was told that it had not. Then she asked if the car had any type of body damage during Katrina. The owner then admitted that a tree had fallen on the roof which caused roof and hood damage. She had not disclosed this information to the dealer when she traded, and asked my wife not to tell the dealer. A phone call to a previous owner is always free, and you should always request this before purchasing a used car. Of course the previous owner must agree, before the dealer can give out their information which may take some time, but it is worth the effort.
