Test driving vehicle history reports

If you’re relying on a vehicle-history report when buying a used car, you could be making a costly mistake.

Carfax, AutoCheck, and other car-history report services can be useful for what they tell you. But it’s what they can miss that’s the problem.

In a recent Consumer Reports investigation, we obtained history reports for dozens of seriously damaged vehicles being sold on eBay Motors and other Web sites. Some of the reports came back “clean” even though the vehicles were being displayed with photos showing the extensive damage, along with descriptions of the problems and vehicle identification numbers.

For example, a smashed 2007 Acura MDX, described on one auction site as a “ROLLOVER; ALL OVER,” got a clean report from Carfax and a rating of 89 out of 100 from AutoCheck.

If you’re buying a used car, by all means, take a look at a vehicle-history report, especially if it’s being provided at no cost to you by a dealer or private seller, as is often the case. But don’t stop there. Drive and carefully inspect the vehicle. Most important, have it checked out by qualified mechanic, preferably one with auto body experience. A thorough inspection is critical, no matter how new the car is or how clean it looks, or even if it’s covered by a warranty.

See our full car-history report investigation, including some stunning photos of wrecked cars that came back with clean titles.

—Anthony Giorgianni

Comments

[TDBahr]

The core of problem is the lack of willingness on the part of the auto sellers and insurance industries to provide ALL the information that would likely result in a negative impact on their revenue stream. So long as they don’t have to reveal all they know about a vehicle the consumer will never have all the facts.
Commercial providers can only report what they know. The few commercially available services do their best to provide data but as long as there is 'opportunity' there will be a person ready and able to take advantage of what “the system” has to offer.
The inability of the states to effectively communicate with one-another has given the crooks all they need to ply their trade. There has been a law on the books to force states to share information since 1991 and to-date only 14 jurisdictions fully take part in all the program has to offer.
A lack of consequences for non-participation by the states and Federal funding to fully implement involvement has resulted in a program that has failed. The initial idea was to get the information to all who needed it but some involved in the concept have been profit driven where there is none.
So long as there is a cleaver seller there is an unsuspecting buyer.
No one is responsible for protecting individuals from their own ignorance; not even the government.

[everett whitney]

TO: TDBahr - " Used vehicle Title Laundering . . ."

Recall all those thousands of New Orleans vehicles which - - - although the VINs were totally removed, windshields broken out, units entered into a (Super Dooper) Federal Listing etc.. - - - were STILL "made to appear pretty & sold across the Nation!

As you posted, it's NOT the task of Any Government body, state or Federal, to cause caution in buying a used vehicle!

Anytime one shops - looking for something far below the usual or more normal selling price, there HAS to be a reason!

".. Caveat Emptor .." should / does govern this type of commerce, not MORE laws & regulations!

For those either w/o the requisite skills / knowledge / appropriate external resources, either do Buy Brand New or " do without! "

everett

[Deborah]

I got rid of a car about 8 years ago - the car dealer was in a car accident with my car - when I traded it in for a new car, I very clearly stated on the paperwork that the car had been in an accident. Out of curiousity, I paid for a report on this car (I still had the VIN number). The report stated the car had never been in an accident. Well, I don't know any more details, but I would never trust any report about any vehicle.