If You Plan To Buy A Used Car - Check Out Carfax.com
Sep 15 '00
If you are considering the purchase of a used automobile, then you would be wise to take advantage of the free vehicle history available at carfax.com. A variety of tips and information are available at Epinions concerning vehicle purchases. However, this single resource may be able to save you thousands of dollars. The website claims that one out of every ten used cars has a problematic history. With those types of odds, it certainly can't hurt to spend a few minutes checking the vehicle out. Most importantly, this service is currently free.
In order to obtain information from carfax.com, you only need to provide the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) and your zip code. Compared with the intrusiveness of many websites, this limited request for information seems welcome. The website quickly searches over one billion records to determine if this vehicle has any history on file. The results are quickly reported in an easy to read format.
The type of information available from carfax.com includes salvage history, odometer fraud, multiple owners, flood damage, major accident damage and fire damage. By comparing information obtained from numerous resources, carfax.com can determine what type of claims have been filed on the vehicle, as well as determining if the odometer readings are inconsistent. This information is derived from DMV records, State Inspection Stations, auto auctions, fire and police records and insurance companies.
Carfax.com began obtaining vehicle information from the state of Missouri in 1986. Since that time, they have amassed a database of over one billion records, including information from all fifty states and Canada. Information is available on cars and light trucks, but not for motorcycles, RV's or boats. By checking state registration records, they can also determine if the vehicle was registered as a fleet vehicle, taxi or some other commercial use.
There is a two to three month lag time from some state reporting systems. Therefore, the information remains updated, but may run a few months behind the actual recording date.
Many large companies are self-insured, or have different insurance reporting procedures than the average consumer. Because of corporate guidelines governing the use and repair of fleet vehicles, the information available concerning these vehicles is much more limited. However, carfax.com will at least be able to determine if the vehicle was registered as a fleet vehicle. Furthermore, it seems less likely that a fleet vehicle would be subject to tampering than a personal vehicle, although it certainly could happen after the vehicle is salvaged. Therefore, I wouldn't worry too much if the vehicle is a fleet vehicle.
Consumers have the world at their fingertips. The internet has empowered the consumer with greater influence than we have ever known. By using the internet, you can determine what the dealer invoice on a vehicle should be, what the blue book value of a used vehicle is, where other similar vehicles can be purchased, and what the best available price is. These resources make it much easier for the consumer to make a deal. Carfax.com continues this tradition of consumer empowerment by arming the consumer with valuable historical information about a specific vehicle, before the purchase is made. Because this service is free, you can check several different vehicles out, to help narrow down which one is best for you. I would highly recommend that anyone seeking to make a used vehicle purchase check the VIN number with carfax.com, to ensure that they are not being taken!
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