# Using carfax or other data system to find maintenance history before purchase **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Tags:** toyota\ **Created:** [May 7, 2023, 8:03pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/using-carfax-or-other-data-system-to-find-maintenance-history-before-purchase/190477 "2023-05-07T20:03:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![WesternRoadtripper1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/48db29/32.png) [@WesternRoadtripper1](https://community.cartalk.com/u/WesternRoadtripper1)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2023, 8:03pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/using-carfax-or-other-data-system-to-find-maintenance-history-before-purchase/190477/1 "2023-05-07T20:03:46Z")
I have a vague notion that “Carfax” can be a source of information about a vehicle’s maintenance history, but I don’t know how that works, or how reliable it is. And when I search for “carfax”, there seem to be other similar information sources with similar sounding names. Is it free as one link suggests? That sound suspicious. I don’t mind paying for information if it’s real, and reliable. The Carfax website emphasizes using the report _prior to purchasing a used vehicle_. Would it also tell me about service done on a car _before I bought it 2015_ (and still own)? Does it only show service done at dealerships, or would it likely include repairs done at established independent repair shops? What other advice can you offer? ---
**Author:** ![jdmere](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/jdmere/32/3002_2.png) [@jdmere](https://community.cartalk.com/u/jdmere)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2023, 8:22pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/using-carfax-or-other-data-system-to-find-maintenance-history-before-purchase/190477/2 "2023-05-07T20:22:25Z")
Hit or miss. It picked up dealer-related info on one car I bought. It would be very unlikely to have anything done by independent mechanics. It does have public info (sale, registration, change of ownership etc.) I’ve found it useful for a general picture but not good for specifics of maintenance. It does cost a modest amount. ---
**Author:** ![weekend-warrior](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/weekend-warrior/32/26122_2.png) [@weekend-warrior](https://community.cartalk.com/u/weekend-warrior)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2023, 8:24pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/using-carfax-or-other-data-system-to-find-maintenance-history-before-purchase/190477/3 "2023-05-07T20:24:26Z")
Carfax will not show work done at independent shops or any accidents that were paid for out of pocket that did not go through insurance. when purchasing a vehicle, it is best to bring it to a reliable shop to have them look it over first. it will be money well spent. ---
**Author:** ![WesternRoadtripper1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/48db29/32.png) [@WesternRoadtripper1](https://community.cartalk.com/u/WesternRoadtripper1)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2023, 9:00pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/using-carfax-or-other-data-system-to-find-maintenance-history-before-purchase/190477/4 "2023-05-07T21:00:35Z")
OK, thanks. That sounds like it won’t give me the particular info I’m most interested in. I actually bought the car several years ago, but without history. It’s worked out very well, and I had my regular mechanic check the car soon after purchase. Just had another pro shop do a similar inspection – now have a list of relatively minor things to resolve. It’s about due for a timing belt, and I was hoping to find out exactly when the last t-belt change was done. Sounds like Carfax won’t tell me that, so I better get that done soon. I appreciate the replies. ---
**Author:** ![bing](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/bing/32/4619_2.png) [@bing](https://community.cartalk.com/u/bing)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2023, 9:08pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/using-carfax-or-other-data-system-to-find-maintenance-history-before-purchase/190477/5 "2023-05-07T21:08:47Z")
I change oil every 5000 miles and trans every 30,000, but my carfax would be blank. ---
**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:** [May 7, 2023, 9:38pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/using-carfax-or-other-data-system-to-find-maintenance-history-before-purchase/190477/6 "2023-05-07T21:38:37Z")
> [@WesternRoadtripper1](#): > > It’s about due for a timing belt, and I was hoping to find out exactly when the last t-belt change was done Even if was on Carfax I would not trust it . I saw some wrong information on Carfax about one of our vehicles . ---
**Author:** ![WesternRoadtripper1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/48db29/32.png) [@WesternRoadtripper1](https://community.cartalk.com/u/WesternRoadtripper1)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2023, 9:41pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/using-carfax-or-other-data-system-to-find-maintenance-history-before-purchase/190477/7 "2023-05-07T21:41:16Z")
@VOLVO-V70 That’s the kind of feedback I was looking for, thanks! ---
**Author:** ![George\_San\_Jose1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e5b9ba/32.png) [@George\_San\_Jose1](https://community.cartalk.com/u/George_San_Jose1)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2023, 9:54pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/using-carfax-or-other-data-system-to-find-maintenance-history-before-purchase/190477/8 "2023-05-07T21:54:12Z")
Do Car Fax reports show the car’s state emissions testing reports? If so, that would be pretty useful info. ---
**Author:** ![WesternRoadtripper1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/48db29/32.png) [@WesternRoadtripper1](https://community.cartalk.com/u/WesternRoadtripper1)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2023, 9:58pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/using-carfax-or-other-data-system-to-find-maintenance-history-before-purchase/190477/9 "2023-05-07T21:58:25Z")
@George_San_Jose1 Not sure why you mention that. I always get test results with the receipt from the shops that do the testing. Couldn’t be much more direct than that. ---
**Author:** ![weekend-warrior](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/weekend-warrior/32/26122_2.png) [@weekend-warrior](https://community.cartalk.com/u/weekend-warrior)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2023, 9:58pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/using-carfax-or-other-data-system-to-find-maintenance-history-before-purchase/190477/10 "2023-05-07T21:58:28Z")
> **[CARFAX: Not Always All the Facts](https://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/2006/10/carfax_facts.html)** > > That's what Lee W. of San Bernardino, California thought his 1998 Corvette had when he bought the sports car two years ago. It's also why he paid $18,000 f ---
**Author:** ![WesternRoadtripper1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/48db29/32.png) [@WesternRoadtripper1](https://community.cartalk.com/u/WesternRoadtripper1)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2023, 10:03pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/using-carfax-or-other-data-system-to-find-maintenance-history-before-purchase/190477/11 "2023-05-07T22:03:36Z")
THAT was interesting…and not very good for Carfax. I guess that seals the deal for my little question. ---
**Author:** ![George\_San\_Jose1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e5b9ba/32.png) [@George\_San\_Jose1](https://community.cartalk.com/u/George_San_Jose1)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2023, 10:05pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/using-carfax-or-other-data-system-to-find-maintenance-history-before-purchase/190477/12 "2023-05-07T22:05:49Z")
> [@WesternRoadtripper1](#): > > I always get test results with the receipt from the shops that do the testing. Couldn’t be much more direct than that. If you have the emissions testing reports, don’t you have the repair receipts too? I don’t see why you’d need a car fax report on a car that you own. ---
**Author:** ![WesternRoadtripper1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/48db29/32.png) [@WesternRoadtripper1](https://community.cartalk.com/u/WesternRoadtripper1)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2023, 10:59pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/using-carfax-or-other-data-system-to-find-maintenance-history-before-purchase/190477/13 "2023-05-07T22:59:19Z")
As I stated previously, I was hoping to find out when the timing belt had last been changed _before I bought this car._ There’s a good possibility it was replaced shortly before I bought it, based on what my mechanic saw when he started to change it just after I bought the car. Based on his observation, I decided to postpone that expensive repair. But an _actual record_ of the job would give me more assurance of that. I guess Carfax is not likely to have that kind of information. I’ll bite the bullet and get it changed. ---
**Author:** ![George\_San\_Jose1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e5b9ba/32.png) [@George\_San\_Jose1](https://community.cartalk.com/u/George_San_Jose1)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2023, 11:06pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/using-carfax-or-other-data-system-to-find-maintenance-history-before-purchase/190477/14 "2023-05-07T23:06:00Z")
> [@WesternRoadtripper1](#): > > I guess Carfax is not likely to have [timing belt replacement] information. It seems like it would, as long as the shop replacing the timing belt entered it into the CarFax database. I’ve replaced the timing belt on my Corolla several times, diy’er, so that has never been reported to Car Fax. It depends on who does the job and if they report it to Car Fax. But I’d guess most timing belt jobs get reported. I think your plan to assume it hasn’t been done and get it changed is a good one. Might be expensive trouble ahead if it hasn’t been changed, but if you change it when it doesn’t need to be changed, considerably lesser expense & worse case you end up with a new timing belt, tensioner, and probably a new water pump, so you’ll be good to go on all those components. Were I looking at a buying a used car, being on the frugal side, I’d just inspect the timing belt for wear, and decide to replace based on what it looked like. If the Car Fax report showed all the previous emissions testing results though over the years, HC, NO, O2, CO, and date of test & odometer readings I’d pay a lot of attention to that. ---
**Author:** ![WesternRoadtripper1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/48db29/32.png) [@WesternRoadtripper1](https://community.cartalk.com/u/WesternRoadtripper1)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2023, 11:18pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/using-carfax-or-other-data-system-to-find-maintenance-history-before-purchase/190477/15 "2023-05-07T23:18:54Z")
> [@George\_San\_Jose1](#): > > But I’d guess most timing belt jobs get reported. Not according to the first few replies above. ---
**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:** [May 7, 2023, 11:22pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/using-carfax-or-other-data-system-to-find-maintenance-history-before-purchase/190477/16 "2023-05-07T23:22:29Z")
Car dealers subscribe to Carfax, there is no reason for small repair shops to exchange information with Carfax, they don’t sell cars. Car dealers provide vehicle history reports on used vehicles, it is a sales tool. ---
**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:** [May 7, 2023, 11:39pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/using-carfax-or-other-data-system-to-find-maintenance-history-before-purchase/190477/17 "2023-05-07T23:39:12Z")
> [@George\_San\_Jose1](#): > > Were I looking at a buying a used car, being on the frugal side, I’d just inspect the timing belt for wear, and decide to replace based on what it looked like. How many times does Tester have to tell you that you just can’t look at belts anymore and have an idea what kind of condition they are in. Stick to what you actually know . ---
**Author:** ![WesternRoadtripper1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/48db29/32.png) [@WesternRoadtripper1](https://community.cartalk.com/u/WesternRoadtripper1)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2023, 12:15am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/using-carfax-or-other-data-system-to-find-maintenance-history-before-purchase/190477/18 "2023-05-08T00:15:43Z")
@Nevada_545 > there is no reason for small repair shops to exchange information with Carfax, they don’t sell cars And that’s part of what I didn’t know before posting this question. Thank you for helping to explain this. I’ve gotten the help I needed, and appreciate all the replies. Was just hoping I could postpone that timing belt job a while, but I guess not. Then again, given the bargain I got on this car when I bought it, I don’t mind spending money on it, even in its advanced age. It’s good on gas, easy on oil, and serves my needs very well. ---
**Author:** ![davesmopar](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/davesmopar/32/41750_2.png) [@davesmopar](https://community.cartalk.com/u/davesmopar)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2023, 4:24am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/using-carfax-or-other-data-system-to-find-maintenance-history-before-purchase/190477/19 "2023-05-08T04:24:50Z")
The last vehicle I bought for my wife had a very clean CarFax report and the dealer was talking it all up, so I began showing hm that the hood and from bumper and a headlamp had been replaced and the shadow marks around the bolts and everything that said the vehicle had been in a (minor) wreck… I thin explained to him that I could do a barrel roll with a vehicle and fix it myself or at my buddies shop and as long as the dealer or ins was not told about it then Carfax would show as never been wrecked… I got my discount… lol So CarFax only shows if something has been done at the dealer and or reported to the ins company… So a clean CarFax to me is not worth the paper it is written on… Only if it shows something bad… But it will show you how many owners have owned it and what states and if it was a lease or not… ---
**Author:** ![bcohen2010](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/779978/32.png) [@bcohen2010](https://community.cartalk.com/u/bcohen2010)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2023, 4:33am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/using-carfax-or-other-data-system-to-find-maintenance-history-before-purchase/190477/20 "2023-05-08T04:33:37Z")
Unfortunately, many original owners, and many more second owners do not replace the timing belt when due–instead, they trade-in the vehicle right before the recommended replacement interval. The next owner is then either stuck with the cost of doing this necessary maintenance, or they drive the car, blissfully unaware that the timing belt should have been replaced, until it fails and the engine is ruined. My point is that it’s very unlikely that someone who is planning to replace a vehicle would invest the $900+ that a timing belt job costs, _since they wouldn’t recoup that upon selling or trading it in_. And that is why any time you buy a used car, you should assume that whatever maintenance was needed or soon will be needed _was not done_. [Next page](https://community.cartalk.com/t/using-carfax-or-other-data-system-to-find-maintenance-history-before-purchase/190477.md?page=2)