Understanding Your Carfax Report: What to Look For?

Understanding Your Carfax Report: What to Look For?

Reading a Carfax report might seem tricky at first, but it's important when considering buying a used car. This report has lots of details about the car's history. Here's a simple guide from Empire Auto Group to help you know what to focus on in the report.

1. The Quick Summary: The Carfax report starts with a quick summary. This is like a short summary that tells you important things about the car. It includes info about: - Accidents - Number of owners - Maintenance records - How many kilometres the car has been driven - The type of title it has (like if it was ever declared a total loss) - Where it was last registered - What type of vehicle is it (like personal, commercial, etc.)

This summary is a great starting point to know what to look for in the rest of the report.

2. Number and Type of Owners: It's good if a car has had only one or two owners. This way, you can ask questions about any issues the car might have had. The Carfax report has a section about the car's owners. It shows things like when it was bought, what kind of owner it was (like personal or fleet), how many kilometres it was driven each year, and more.

3. Accident History: Always check the accident history to make sure you're not buying a car with big problems.

This part shows if the car: - Was declared a total loss

- Had its airbags used in an accident - Suffered big damage to its structure - Was in an accident or had other damage (besides structural)

Some accidents might be okay, like if it was just a small repair. But if it had big repairs, you might want to be careful.

4. Odometer Reading: The Carfax report shows the last reading on the car's odometer. This is important because sometimes people change the number on the odometer to make the car seem newer. You can check this against what you see on the car's dashboard to make sure it's accurate.

5. Where the Vehicle Has Been Registered: Knowing where the car was registered can be important. If it's been registered in many different places, it might be a red flag. Sometimes, people try to hide if a car is damaged by registering it far away.

6. Service History: The service history shows if the car has been taken care of. If it wasn't serviced properly, it might have hidden problems. There are a couple of ways to check this: - Look at how many service records there are. There should be a good number.

- Divide the odometer reading by 5,000. This will give you an idea of how often it was serviced. If the number is close, it's probably fine.

7. Lien Check: If the previous owner still owes money to the car, it will show on the Carfax report. Ensure the owner gives you a document that says the lien has been released. This will protect you from any problems later on.

Conclusion:

Reading a Carfax report is an important part of buying a used car. It tells you a lot about the car's history. Focus on the summary, number of owners, accident history, odometer reading, registration history, service history, and lien check. This way, you can make sure you're getting a good car.

If you're looking for used cars for sale in London, Ontario, look no further than Empire Auto Group. With a diverse selection of used cars, trucks, and other vehicles, we offer quality vehicles at competitive prices. Whether you're looking for a sedan, SUV, or truck, our knowledgeable and friendly staff will assist you in finding the perfect car to meet your needs.