CarFax & Accidents

[Brucelee]

Originally Posted by urban_legend

Does CarFax catch accidents? Or only salvage title?
I was talking to the mgr of a Porsche Body shop about a Boxster he was working on and he said he doesn't report the accident.

And I think I know the answer to this one - but will pose it anyways (historical record for the forum) - would anyone buy a Boxster if they knew it was in an accident. Like minor bodywork to the rear quarter panel and suspension?
No frame or front end damage?

CFax can even miss a salvage title. As a former dealer, I always ran a CF or Autocheck. However, I NEVER relied on either for hidden damage.

For that, you have to get the car in the air and you have to use a paint meter.

Both are required.

Now, as to your second question, the Box is a unibody and it is NOT that easy to spot or differentiate frame vs no-frame involvement. MY rule was that if I found new paint, I did not buy the car.

Simple and safe.

Plenty of shops won't report damage. Surprisingly, many times the insurance company won't either. Carfax or Autocheck are a great start, but I wouldn't rely on the info 100%.

As to damage to the vehicle, it really depends. If a car has had the nose re-sprayed due to rock chipping, that's one thing, but if actual body damage more than a bumper being replaced from parking too close to the garage wall is involved, I would look for a better car. There are plenty out there in this market that have no questionable history, so I would hold out for one of those.

[blinkwatt]

I don't trust either.

Autocheck said my car was 100% fine.

Carfax found a minor car accident that I verified with the previous owner and dealership records. But Carfax has had incorrect information and inaccurate dates for other cars in my house that my Dad was the original owner and kept until the day they ended up in the junkyard.

I judge more by receipts, quality of any repairs and the openness of the previous owner about any work that may have been done more then anything.