When purchasing a vehicle, always ask for the Carfax. Any dealer will be proud to show a clean Carfax report when selling a vehicle. Any reluctance is a red flag. When viewing a report be sure to look for the following things:
Accidents
Find out if the car has been in any accidents. Depending on the location of the wreck, you may be able to find details on what happened. A minor accident usually involves a person being rear ended or hitting a parked car with little to no body damage. With careful inspection of the car's body, these cars can be acceptable. If the report reads that airbags deployed, functional damage, or frame damage, stay away!!!
Title Branding
Be sure that the prospective vehicle has a clear title. The Carfax report will disclose any brands. Look out for cars with Salvage, Rebuilt, Flood or Fire Damage titles. Also, check for Total Loss and Frame Damage. These vehicles are ineligible for full coverage insurance. In many cases these cars are not even eligible for registration.
Number of Owners
Check out how many people have owned the vehicle. If the car is five years old, but has had four owner, you have to wonder what made those four people get rid of it so quickly.
Mileage
Carfax will report any known odometer rollbacks. You should still compare the last reported odometer reading with what the seller is advertising.
Service History
A used car with a responsible former owner is a great catch. Check to see if the car has a detailed service history. If there are not many service reports, it is possible that the car has been maintained at a service center that does not report to Carfax, which is fine. In this case, question the seller about the car's service history.
Other Things To Check For
Look out for recalls, thefts, former police cruisers, failed inspections and liens.
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Find out if the car has been in any accidents. Depending on the location of the wreck, you may be able to find details on what happened. A minor accident usually involves a person being rear ended or hitting a parked car with little to no body damage. With careful inspection of the car's body, these cars can be acceptable. If the report reads that airbags deployed, functional damage, or frame damage, stay away!!!
Title Branding
Be sure that the prospective vehicle has a clear title. The Carfax report will disclose any brands. Look out for cars with Salvage, Rebuilt, Flood or Fire Damage titles. Also, check for Total Loss and Frame Damage. These vehicles are ineligible for full coverage insurance. In many cases these cars are not even eligible for registration.
Number of Owners
Check out how many people have owned the vehicle. If the car is five years old, but has had four owner, you have to wonder what made those four people get rid of it so quickly.
Mileage
Carfax will report any known odometer rollbacks. You should still compare the last reported odometer reading with what the seller is advertising.
Service History
A used car with a responsible former owner is a great catch. Check to see if the car has a detailed service history. If there are not many service reports, it is possible that the car has been maintained at a service center that does not report to Carfax, which is fine. In this case, question the seller about the car's service history.
Other Things To Check For
Look out for recalls, thefts, former police cruisers, failed inspections and liens.
Still have questions about Carfax reports? Feel free to leave a comment and subscribe!!