A Ways to Get a Free Carfax Report (& Hack for Absolutely Free VIN Check!)

The only problem is Carfax reports are expensive.

One report will sell you back $39.99.

For three reports you’ll pay $59.99.

And for six reports, you’ll pay $99.99!

So, what if you don’t want to pay that?

Should you just skip the report altogether?

Heck no, and here’s why…

Why It’s Important to Check a Car’s History

Buying a used vehicle can save you so much money compared to buying one that’s brand new.

But it’s important you know its history if you’re planning to buy a used car.

Here are a few reasons why knowing a vehicle’s history is so important:

You can see if the vehicle’s been damaged

Sure, you can have a good look at a car before you buy it. But, there’s only so much you can tell about what a car’s been through just by looking at it.

Sadly, you can’t always depend on the seller or dealership to give you a complete and accurate history of a car.

If you have a report, however, you can see details on any accidents the car has been in and the extent of the damage.

View odometer history

One thing to keep an eye out for when looking for a used car is the mileage.

Sometimes, mileage seems too good to be true. Without a Carfax report, you can’t know for sure whether the car’s odometer reading has been rolled back.

Although it’s illegal to change a vehicle’s odometer reading, sellers will sometimes roll it back to increase a car’s value.

When a vehicle is registered and whenever it goes into the shop for maintenance, its mileage is recorded. So, when you view the mileage listings on the car history report, you can make sure that the odometer reading hasn’t been tampered with.

This is so useful because you get a true picture of how many miles a vehicle has actually done!

You’ll get a clear picture of its ownership history

There’s no other way to tell a car’s ownership history without a Carfax report.

A report can tell you how many owners a car has had, what areas it was driven in, and how long each owner had the car for.

If you see that the used car has had a lot of owners in a short space of time, then this could be a red flag. Knowing a car’s ownership history will give you a better idea of the life expectancy of the car.

You can see if the vehicle’s been properly maintained

You may be able to see from a car history report how well a car was maintained. On a Carfax report, you may be able to see things like oil changes and maintenance services that have been performed on the vehicle.

If you can see that maintenance was not performed per schedule, you may be able to get the seller to lower the price, as the car wasn’t properly maintained.

Or, if you can see things like the oil wasn’t changed, then this could indicate future problems and repairs that’ll be needed, which can cost you money!

So, this could help you to decide whether to avoid buying a certain vehicle.

You’re less likely to waste your money!

The most important reason to get a history report is basically that you want to know what it is you’re buying.

Sometimes, a used car seems like a great deal.

But once you’ve bought it, the thing breaks down every two seconds, costing you a lot of money.

Sadly, you can’t always take what the seller says at face value.

That’s why having that Carfax report is useful. It makes you so much more knowledgeable about a vehicle’s history, which in turn can indicate how well it will serve you in the future.

That car that seemed like a great deal may turn out to be a dud that’s just going to drain money from your bank account.

A Carfax report can give you a good indication of whether a vehicle is going to serve you well in the future.

So, I really would recommend getting one if you’re looking to purchase a used car.

What Does a Carfax Report Show You?

As I said before, there are lots of different vehicle history checks you can do.

The most comprehensive though is a Carfax vehicle history report.

This report is incredibly detailed and tells you everything you need to know about a vehicle.

Here’s what a report from Carfax checks for:

• Major accidents
• Multiple owners
• Vehicle service
• Mileage rollback
• Flood damage
• Airbag deployment
• Mileage rollover
• Not actual mileage state owned
• Total loss
• Rebuilt
• Structural damage
• Open recalls
• Registration history
• Warranty information
• Salvage titles
• Estimated miles driven per year
• Last reported mileage
• Length of ownership
• Commercial or personal use
• Service history
• Hail damage
• Branded a lemon
• Junked

Does Carfax Have a Report for Every Car?

You’ll find that reports are available for vehicles manufactured since 1981. This was when the 17-character VIN was standardized.

Carfax provides information on cars and light trucks. Reports are powered by the Carfax database. This contains billions of records from more than 100,000 domestic and international sources.

So, yes, it’s pretty comprehensive and the place to go if you want to learn more about a vehicle.

Now, to get your report, you’re going to need a VIN.

What’s a VIN?

A Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) is a 17 digit (letters and numbers) number that all vehicles from 1981 onwards have.

The number includes information on a vehicle’s background, like the manufacturer, model year, and where it was built.

Basically, the VIN records the vehicle’s identity.

You use your VIN when checking your car’s history.

Where to Find Your Car’s VIN

Okay, so to get your report, you’ll need to find your vehicle’s VIN.

You can find this in a few different places, including off the vehicle and on the vehicle itself.

Off the vehicle, you can usually find the VIN on documentation you have for the car, like:

• Vehicle title.
• Registration card.
• Insurance documents.
• Owner’s manual.
• Body shop repair records.
• Police reports.