How to Get a Report on a Car at Car Fax

CARFAX is a company that collects and maintains a database of vehicle records. These records can help those buying a used car learn about a particular vehicle's history. The CARFAX report may include: the number of owners a car has had; its dates of sale and odometer readings; accidents; and other damage reported to CARFAX. Sometimes the report even includes the car's service records, if the service was obtained at a business that reports to CARFAX. The information in a CARFAX report can help buyers identify and avoid a car that has had significant problems.

Instructions

1

Locate the vehicle identification number, or VIN, of the car you're considering. You can find the 17-character VIN on the lower driver's side corner of the windshield; it is visible from outside the car. The VIN may also be printed on a sticker on the driver's side door jamb or door post, visible when the door is open.

2

Type "www.carfax.com" into your web browser to navigate to the CARFAX website.

3

Type the VIN into the box under "Start Your Search" on the CARFAX home page.

4

Click "Get the CARFAX."

5

Confirm at the top of the next page that the vehicle year, make and model matches the car you want the report on. If it does not, double check the VIN number and try again.

6

Read the line that tells you how many records were found on this car. If the number is zero, do not purchase the report because there is nothing there. Records could include information such as when the car was sold, its odometer readings, accidents and service records. You cannot find out what types of records your report includes without purchasing it.

7

Click the circle next to the number of CARFAX reports you would like to purchase. In most cases, this will be one, unless you plan to purchase reports for other vehicles as well within the next 60 days. If you are shopping for used vehicles and anticipate purchasing more reports, buying a package is much more cost-effective than buying individual reports. As of 2010, one report costs $34.99 and six reports cost $44.99, which averages to $7.50 each.

8

Enter your credit card information and click on "Buy Now" to view the full CARFAX report.