# How accurate is Carfax reports? **URL:** \ **Category:** Buying/Selling\ **Created:** [August 21, 2022, 9:15pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/how-accurate-is-carfax-reports/185946 "2022-08-21T21:15:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![MikeInNH](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a587f6/32.png) [@MikeInNH](https://community.cartalk.com/u/MikeInNH)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2022, 1:10pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/how-accurate-is-carfax-reports/185946/22 "2022-09-27T13:10:38Z")
> [@woodzappl07\_182423](#): > > it increases the value and the likelihood the person interested will buy since only responsible people keep accurate car fax CarFax reports are a marketing tool used on uninformed people. If something shows up on a CarFax report, then it does have a high probability that it’s correct. As I said, the problem with a CarFax report is what’s NOT on the report. Dealers have contracts with CarFax. Dealers give CarFax their data and in return CarFax gives the dealers access to their reports. Many independent mechanics and bodyshops do NOT have this relationship with CarFax, so any repairs they do will never be reported to CarFax. CarFax also gets some of their data from states insurance bureau. But in many states that practice is not allowed. ---
**Author:** ![woodzappl07\_182423](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/bc8723/32.png) [@woodzappl07\_182423](https://community.cartalk.com/u/woodzappl07_182423)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2022, 10:44am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/how-accurate-is-carfax-reports/185946/23 "2022-11-23T10:44:14Z")
I think very safe and reliable you can’t buy a used car without 1 n if you live in the RUST BELT THERE EVEN MORE IMPORTANT I HATE RUST I HAD A DREAM A WHILE BACK THE STATE SWITCHED TO QUICK JOE AND AT BUDGET TIME HAD SOME UNGODLY BILLION DOLLAR DEFICIATE FROM ITS COST AND IT WAS ALL MY IDEA AND MY DREAM I REMEMBER EVERYONE LOOKING AT ME AT THE BIG POLITICAL ROUND TABLE I SAID HEY I WAS ONLY THINKING ABOUT THE ROADS AND MY CARS ALSO LETS SEE 3 mid 80s monte’s frame rails replaced at wheel well 2 Buick Regals1983, 80 Grand prix also all framrails had to be replaced so my vendetta is legitimate haha… ---
**Author:** ![woodzappl07\_182423](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/bc8723/32.png) [@woodzappl07\_182423](https://community.cartalk.com/u/woodzappl07_182423)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2022, 10:50am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/how-accurate-is-carfax-reports/185946/24 "2022-11-23T10:50:33Z")
well once in a while a brazen thief will come along and still do the do the crime knowing the paper trail is gonna lead straight there door the thief’s desperately must be in a bad bad financial situation you will go to prison for that and I think since multi states are involved it will be a fed case ---
**Author:** ![It\_s-Me](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/it_s-me/32/12660_2.png) [@It\_s-Me](https://community.cartalk.com/u/It_s-Me)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2022, 12:35pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/how-accurate-is-carfax-reports/185946/25 "2022-11-23T12:35:25Z")
> [@woodzappl07\_182423](#): > > I think very safe and reliable you can’t buy a used car without 1 if you live in the RUST BELT So the guy in Florida with his low mileage 2000 Corvette, all service done at the dealer and reported to Carfax. Car gets flooded in a hurricane in Florida, only has liability insurance on it, The guy dries and cleans it up, gets it running, and takes it to Michigan to sell. Seeing there is no insurance claim on it for the flood damage, the only thing Carfax knows is the service record at the dealer The Carfax report makes it look like a great car, yep, they’re real reliable. ---
**Author:** ![VOLVO-V70](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/8e8cbc/32.png) [@VOLVO-V70](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VOLVO-V70)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2022, 2:20pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/how-accurate-is-carfax-reports/185946/26 "2022-11-23T14:20:43Z")
@woodzappl07_182423 Capital letters on a Forum ! Why are you yelling at me with that nonsense ---
**Author:** ![Purebred](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/purebred/32/46796_2.png) [@Purebred](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Purebred)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2022, 3:13pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/how-accurate-is-carfax-reports/185946/27 "2022-11-23T15:13:00Z")
Holy word salad Batman! ---
**Author:** ![VOLVO-V70](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/8e8cbc/32.png) [@VOLVO-V70](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VOLVO-V70)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2022, 3:19pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/how-accurate-is-carfax-reports/185946/28 "2022-11-23T15:19:10Z")
Thanksgiving , the time for crazy uncles to show up here . Me thinks woodzapp fits that description . ---
**Author:** ![PvtPublic](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/pvtpublic/32/13089_2.png) [@PvtPublic](https://community.cartalk.com/u/PvtPublic)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2022, 10:54am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/how-accurate-is-carfax-reports/185946/30 "2022-11-28T10:54:19Z")
> [@VOLVO-V70](#): > > More nonsense , the owners do not enter things into Carfax , Autocheck or other tracking sites > [@MikeInNH](#): > > CarFax reports are a marketing tool used on uninformed people. > [@It\_s-Me](#): > > The Carfax report makes it look like a great car, yep, they’re real reliable. > [@VOLVO-V70](#): > > Thanksgiving , the time for crazy uncles to show up here . > [@David-John](#): > > **MOST vehicle accidents will not show up on a Carfax report** and, NOT all totaled or salvage vehicles will appear on a Carfax report. so you cant rely 100% on report Quit it guys, next thing your going to tell us is Santa isnt real ! ! SANTA IS REAL (really) 🤣 😂 🤣 ---
**Author:** ![texases](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/texases/32/862_2.png) [@texases](https://community.cartalk.com/u/texases)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2022, 11:56am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/how-accurate-is-carfax-reports/185946/31 "2022-11-28T11:56:08Z")
The only value of Carfax to me is that I would eliminate cars that reported red flags. No red flags, then take a look, if interested get a PPI. ---
**Author:** ![VDCdriver](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/vdcdriver/32/30_2.png) [@VDCdriver](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VDCdriver)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2022, 12:15pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/how-accurate-is-carfax-reports/185946/32 "2022-11-28T12:15:45Z")
> [@MikeInNH](#): > > If something shows up on a CarFax report, then it does have a high probability that it’s correct. As I said, the problem with a CarFax report is what’s NOT on the report. Yes, a high probability, but not an absolute assurance of accuracy. IIRC, @ok4450’s Saab was listed as stolen on a Carfax report, even though it had never been stolen and was sitting in his driveway. ---
**Author:** ![MikeInNH](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a587f6/32.png) [@MikeInNH](https://community.cartalk.com/u/MikeInNH)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2022, 1:52pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/how-accurate-is-carfax-reports/185946/33 "2022-11-28T13:52:28Z")
> [@VDCdriver](#): > > Saab was listed as stolen on a Carfax report, even though it had never been stolen and was sitting in his driveway. Those are extremely low. What makes CarFax reports so inaccurate are the accidents/repairs/maintenance that’s NOT on the report. That accounts for 99% of their inaccuracy. ---
**Author:** ![Purebred](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/purebred/32/46796_2.png) [@Purebred](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Purebred)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2022, 2:28pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/how-accurate-is-carfax-reports/185946/34 "2022-11-28T14:28:46Z")
Same with your medical history/record. Only as accurate/complete as the data entered. When medical records were all paper, a lot of information got lost. Digital, again only as good as the information entered. ---
**Author:** ![old\_mopar\_guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/6bbea6/32.png) [@old\_mopar\_guy](https://community.cartalk.com/u/old_mopar_guy)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2022, 4:44pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/how-accurate-is-carfax-reports/185946/35 "2022-11-28T16:44:33Z")
Mike, how were you able to do that yellow highlight? Im envious. ---
**Author:** ![Nevada\_545](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/nevada_545/32/41232_2.png) [@Nevada\_545](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Nevada_545)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2022, 5:48pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/how-accurate-is-carfax-reports/185946/36 "2022-11-28T17:48:35Z")
> [@VDCdriver](#): > > Saab was listed as stolen on a Carfax report, even though it had never been stolen and was sitting in his driveway. Can you be sure the car was not stolen and recovered while the previous owner had the car? ---
**Author:** ![VDCdriver](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/vdcdriver/32/30_2.png) [@VDCdriver](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VDCdriver)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2022, 6:42pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/how-accurate-is-carfax-reports/185946/37 "2022-11-28T18:42:14Z")
> [@Nevada\_545](#): > > Can you be sure the car was not stolen and recovered while the previous owner had the car? You would have to ask that question of @ok4450. He was the one who owned the allegedly stolen Saab. [Previous page](https://community.cartalk.com/t/how-accurate-is-carfax-reports/185946.md?page=1)