Buying Used: Which VIN Check Company Is Best?

[CrusinSusan]

There are so many more out there now than what I recall (carfax). Is anyone vin check site better than another? ie: more complete/accurate?

[wanderingbob]

I was in insurance claims work for thirty plus years . Many , many accidents are never claimed . Carfax reports that I personally were involved with all had flaws . Ain't worth the money , why pay for imfomation that is suspect .
I bought my daughter an auto that was owned and used by an insurance company as an agents car , ten years later when she traded it in Carfax had flagged it as an insurance claim rather thasn a company car .

[Trail-Mate]

I use 2 Carfax and Autocheck, One will pickup info the other may not have, But use them as a guide only. Most important info on these that I use it to track where the vehicle spent its life. This info tells me if it was in a disaster area, flood zone etc. Also how long each owner owned it and the area it was used in. I also only run these on vehicles that I am considering for purchase. Most dealers will run both for you.

[jamnw]

Car fax is not worth it in my opinion and opinion of my friend who has been in car business for 20 years. I looked at 2 vans with no carfax damage info and both had been wrecked.
One had the front bumper screwed on with Sheetrock screws!
My buddy told me each state is different on what damage is reported.

[pitch]

Not a one of them is worth a lot. They may be accurate in the title transactions, but that is it. There is no central clearing house that anyone is required to report repairs to. Large rental companies are mostly self insured and do their work in house with no public records. If I bang up my car, have Billy Bob do the repairs, and pay for it out of my pocket, there are no records.
If you want to use a VIN report fine, it will at least give you the title history, anything else on the report should be considered a bonus. In no way should you consider it a complete history.