CarFax & Accidents

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.