AutoCheck vs. Carfax

Vehicle history reports are an integral part of any used car purchase. Reports from services such as AutoCheck, Carfax, or Bumper can shed light on a car's backstory and alert you to potential problems or inconsistencies before you move forward with a car purchase. Each has its strengths and blind spots, so below we'll look at how to maximize your time and investment. With the cost of a single vehicle report up to $45, it's imperative you know what kind of information you're getting with each.

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Why do I need a vehicle history report?
Carfax vs. AutoCheck vs. Bumper comparison table
Testing Carfax
Testing AutoCheck
Testing Bumper
National Motor Vehicle Title Information System (NMVTIS)
Can you get a free vehicle history or title report?
FAQs

Why do I need a vehicle history report?

A vehicle history report is your first look into a car's life story. Of course, we want to believe the stories sellers tell us — "one owner, immaculate," "belonged to a grandmother who hardly drove it," "no accidents, changed the oil every 5,000 miles." Unfortunately, people aren't always truthful, and in the case of a second or third owner, they may not know or have the historical information readily available.

A vehicle history report can usually tell us whether a car has been in an accident or possibly given a "branded" title, a broad category of titles indicating extensive damage. Branding means an insurance company has declared the vehicle a total loss because of an accident, flood damage, or another catastrophic event. A salvage title is one example, issued when a car has been damaged seriously enough in a crash to warrant writing it off rather than paying to fix it.

The car's vehicle identification number (VIN) is the key to the vehicle history report. The 17-digit VIN is like the car's Social Security number: It's used to note nearly every major event in an automobile's lifetime. Typically, the information on a vehicle history report includes a summary and an overall evaluation of the vehicle, supported with details, dates and locations. The report makes it easy to see whether the car has been registered in numerous states. Other information may include a vehicle description, the number of previous owners, accident information, verification of recent mileage (which may include an alert for an odometer rollback), and lemon-law and recall checks. For definitive information on recalls for any used car that you're considering, use the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's free VIN lookup tool.

Several companies sell vehicle history reports, promising to reveal a vehicle's past. Keep in mind that no report is perfect. It's only as good as the incidents reported to the database. If someone gets into a minor accident and chooses to repair the car without involving an insurance company (rates often rise after making a claim), the accident will not be reflected in the report.

Similarly, if the body shop handling the repairs does not share its data with the vehicle history companies, it won't appear on a report either. A vehicle could have frame damage, and you wouldn't know it by just reading the report. That said, we still recommend running a report before driving across town to see a car in person.

Carfax vs. AutoCheck vs. Bumper comparison table

Testing Carfax

Carfax is the most well-known provider of vehicle history reports. It dates back to the late 1980s, when it began faxing reports to its customers. It is also the most expensive, and prices have gone up over the years. A single Carfax report costs $44.99. Two cost $59.99, and five cost $109.99.

The Carfax report is the benchmark for all other vehicle history reports. If a vehicle has had multiple owners, the information is clearly labeled and organized in different sections. Carfax also has more detailed maintenance records that provide information on any issues a vehicle might have had. It's also an indicator that a prior owner took good care of the vehicle.

We ran a report on a 2014 Porsche Boxster that spent most of its life in Florida. Carfax had 15 service records dating back to 2014, whereas AutoCheck had only three in 2024. Maintenance history is especially important when you're looking to purchase a performance vehicle such as a Porsche. The same report noted five owners for the Boxster, compared to three on AutoCheck. The difference was that Carfax counted dealerships that took possession of the car between owners, whereas AutoCheck only counted the owners who purchased the vehicle.

Our opinion: Carfax is pricey but worth it, thanks to its detailed, user-friendly reports. For many, a clean Carfax report is the first step in getting a good used car.

Testing AutoCheck

AutoCheck is owned by Experian, the credit reporting company. Similar to how Experian issues credit scores, AutoCheck is notable for providing a vehicle "score" — a number and a range — such as 85 out of a range of 70 to 90. The company says that this score represents the predicted likelihood that it will be on the road in five years. It is meant to be a quick way to identify and eliminate vehicles that might have issues, ranging from high mileage to reported accidents.

We ran the VIN of a 2017 Honda Accord with a salvage title. AutoCheck had records of two accidents, including one in which the insurance company reported it as a total loss. The Carfax report not only listed both of those accidents but also included information about damage to the front of the vehicle that occurred in November 2024. We ran the report in early December 2024. At this time, the last reported incident for this Accord on AutoCheck was from July 2022. It's possible the 2024 incident will eventually appear on AutoCheck, but Carfax seems to get its data more quickly.

AutoCheck charges $29.99 per report. However, few people consider only one used car when they're shopping, so you'd likely opt for the higher-tier plan at $49.99, which gives you access to five reports in 21 days.

Our opinion: AutoCheck isn't quite as good as Carfax. That said, AutoCheck is still worth a look, as it provides a better value. It costs half as much for multiple reports ($50 for five vehicle history reports versus $100 for five Carfax reports). The vehicle score is a nice, quick reference, but don't put too much stock in it.

Testing Bumper

Bumper is a newer service with a subscription model. It costs $1 for a seven-day trial, during which time you can run up to 50 reports. Then you'll be charged $27.99 per month. The company's data comes from the National Motor Vehicle Title Information System; its presentation is more visually appealing but less comprehensive than Carfax's and AutoCheck's. For example, remember the 2017 Accord with the three accidents reported on Carfax? On Bumper, the report summary listed seven accidents. When we clicked that icon, it took us to a map of the U.S. showing "0 Accidents Reported." The next section said "0 Damage Reports." It turns out that the 7 "accidents" were seven instances when the vehicle was listed as a "salvage title," but even those were not accurate since a few were duplicate entries. None of the information helped us identify where the damage occurred on the vehicle, unlike the reports from the major brands.

Our opinion: Bumper's user interface is slick and more intuitive than either Carfax or AutoCheck. It certainly represents a bargain with its dollar trial period and 50-report limit, but what good are those reports if you don't get the same level of detail as you would with AutoCheck or Carfax?

National Motor Vehicle Title Information System (NMVTIS)

The title information in the NMVTIS comes from participating state motor vehicle registries. Run by the federal Department of Justice, the system is the only one that's publicly available in the U.S. to which all insurance carriers, auto recyclers, junkyards, and salvage yards must, by law, report on a regular basis. The NMVTIS web page has a list of third-party companies that provide history reports. The prices range from free to about $20. It's a less expensive alternative, but based on our experience, you get what you pay for.

You won't find any fancy scores or detailed entries in these history reports. We tried out a couple of the NMVTIS vehicle history reports with our test VINs and came away largely disappointed. Neither the free nor the paid reports told us anything beyond whether the vehicle had a branded title and how often it was issued a title, presumably to a new owner. These reports do little to flesh out the actual backstory of a car.

Our opinion: We recommend using this resource only to determine if your potential car has a branded title. Even then, it is best used as a secondary check. Save your money for a report from AutoCheck or Carfax instead.

Can you get a free vehicle history or title report?

Yes, you can get a free vehicle history report, but this option isn't available for every vehicle. Most major used car dealers and some car-selling sites will provide a free Carfax report or AutoCheck report. You can find many of these vehicles on the Edmunds used car inventory page or on dealership websites. However, you might not be able to choose between AutoCheck and Carfax. If a free report isn't available, it's still a good idea to buy one for any car you're seriously considering. These reports can tell you how many previous owners there have been, the title status, any accidents, repair history and odometer issues. 

If you find yourself on a used car lot and want to know the history of a particular vehicle, ask for a report. All dealers have vehicle history report subscriptions, usually with AutoCheck or Carfax, and will run a free report for interested buyers. This report becomes a valuable source of third-party information. If the dealer refuses to run a vehicle history report or provides an outdated report, it's a possible red flag.

FAQs

How do I get a Carfax for free?
If you specifically want a free Carfax vehicle history report, you need to visit the "Used cars for sale" section of the Carfax website. Every vehicle listed there will come with a free report. If you're already on the dealer lot, ask the salesperson to show you the report.

What is the vehicle history?
The vehicle history will contain items such as where the vehicle was sold and registered, service history, accident history, potential mileage rollback issues, and whether it was issued a salvage or junk title.

Can I run a VIN number for free?
Yes, but the information you get depends on where you're doing a VIN check. For example, if you're looking for some basic information and specs on your car, Edmunds has a free VIN lookup. If you want to check for open recalls, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's Check for Recalls tool is free. Finally, if you need a full vehicle history report, you'll have to either find a used car on a dealership website or pay for the report yourself.

Final tip: A good start for used car shopping

A vehicle history report won't guarantee you're getting a perfect used car. A mechanical inspection is still a good idea. And if you suspect structural or frame damage, a body shop visit could save you from an expensive mistake. However, running a report is a valuable first step that will save you time and money. It could also protect you from buying a car with a checkered past.