Carfax is an American organization that tracks the history of any vehicle based on its Vehicle Identification Number (VIN); The information provided by this tracking is very useful when making the decision to buy a used car in the United States. If you have the VIN of any particular car manufactured after 1981, you can buy a Carfax report that will provide you with complete information on the vehicle's ownership records, its accident history, its service log, spare parts, and other information of interest. Although in most cases you need to pay a fee to access a Carfax report, there are several methods to obtain this valuable tool for free. This article will show you how it is possible.
Steps
Method 1 of 2: Get the Carfax report directly from your car dealer
Step 1. You can get a free Carfax report at the used car dealer you are interested in buying from
Most car dealer agencies have a subscription to Carfax services that allows them to give you the corresponding report for any used vehicle they have for sale.
- Contact your sales agent in advance to make sure your business has free Carfax reports for buyers.
- Ask one of the representatives of the marketing agency for the Carfax report of the car you are interested in as soon as you arrive at the premises.
Step 2. Consult the report in depth on the website of the marketing agency
Many of these businesses will provide you with a direct hyperlink where you can view the report for the vehicle you are looking to purchase.
Without having to visit the agency in person, you can check the section of their website that lists the used cars they have for sale. In most cases, next to the description and photographs of the vehicle, a hyperlink will appear to consult the Carfax report online
Method 2 of 2: Get Free Reports Directly from the Carfax Page
Step 1. The Carfax website includes used cars that are for sale at car dealers near you
Step 2. Find a car that interests you
Visit this page and click the "Find a Car" button at the top of the screen.
Step 3. Enter the necessary information
Write all the criteria that identify the type of car you are interested in: year of manufacture, make, model; then enter your zip code. Indicate if you want to search only among cars that have had a single owner (the option to check is "Show only CARFAX 1-Owner Vehicles"), and then click on the "Search" button. At that time, a list will be displayed showing the used cars that match your criteria and are available at a dealer near your region.
Step 4. Click on the "View FREE Carfax Report" button below the vehicle description to view the history of any car displayed in this section
Step 5. Access a list of auto agents whose businesses are near you and subscribe to Carfax services
If you are not sure of the brand and model you are looking for, you can enter a more general page at this address. Follow the link to "Carfax for Dealers" at the bottom of the screen, then enter your zip code in the "Check your Competition" field and you will be able to find agencies near you that offer free Carfax reports.