While vehicle history reports have helped many used car buyers walk through the minefield of potentially bad used cars, they are not always accurate…

What the consumer should know

Here at LotPro.com, we have always felt that the informed consumer is our best customer. So as an informed consumer, you would think that, after reading their advertising, obtaining one of these reports and finding no adverse information in it would pretty much guarantee that the car has a clean history. That’s what the companies would like you to think – but you need to read the fine print, as well as read on.

The companies that offer them

Vehicle history reports are available from a number of companies: Car Detective, DMV.org, Vehix.com and Experian’s Auto Check.com all offer vehicle reports, although the largest company has to be Carfax (owned by R.L. Polk & Co.).

What the reports contain

Vehicle history reports normally contain information reported to state DMVs (Department of Motor Vehicles) such as vehicle use (police or commercial vehicle), odometer readings, title types and lease/lien events (ownership changes) as well as activity dates and locations.

Reports may also contain accident information, stolen vehicle information, airbag deployment, maintenance and service events and repairs.

What the reports do not always contain

While the state DMVs are an excellent source of information, not all sources report to these services. Not all police departments, and none of the insurance companies report to these companies. As a result, accident data must be drawn from body shops and some accident reports – not the most accurate data collection method. If an accident isn’t reported to the police and the driver has the car repaired at a shop that doesn’t report, it’s as if the event never happened.

The Fine Print

Here is what Carfax has to say about the content of a typical report:

“CARFAX DEPENDS ON ITS SOURCES FOR THE ACCURACY AND RELIABILITY OF ITS INFORMATION. THEREFORE, NO RESPONSIBILITY IS ASSUMED BY CARFAX OR ITS AGENTS FOR ERRORS OR OMISSIONS IN THIS REPORT. CARFAX FURTHER EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING ANY IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. CARFAX®”

Not exactly a ringing endorsement.

What to do

Most experts will tell you that nothing takes the place of a thorough inspection by an ASE certified car mechanic. An ASE “master technician” is preferable, since they are certified in all vehicle areas. Only when the vehicle has passed a thorough physical inspection can you be sure of what you are buying.

The Bottom Line

Here at LotPro.com, we want to see you “on the road”. But we also want to see you driving a car that you can depend on.

Tags: Car reports, Carfax, Used Cars