Do You Have a Clean Carfax? | Chamblee GA | Atlanta, Alpharetta & Gwinnett

What goes into a Carfax report?

A Carfax report compiles information from different databases that can be found using your vehicle's VIN. Drawing this information together into one report, it's easier than ever to know the history of a used vehicle. Since a Carfax report is a big deciding factor in a sale, here's some of the information you might run across when you're looking over a Carfax report.

Any Damage To the Vehicle

An unblemished exterior on a used car doesn't necessarily mean that it hasn't had anything happen to it. Everything from an accident to other damage that the car has sustained since it was first built is considered in the report. For example, if the airbags have been deployed, you'll see a note of that. You wouldn't want to purchase a vehicle that has been totaled in an accident.

Odometer History

To be sure of mileage, Carfax can collect data on the odometer. If it's an older vehicle with a manual odometer, although unlikely, there's always the possibility that it could have been tampered with. This becomes an issue because you would assume that a vehicle is newer than it really is.

Any Issues With Titling

The title of a vehicle establishes ownership, so if this is missing or there are problems with it, then it's better to walk away. Don't buy from a seller that can't demonstrate they actually own the vehicle.

"Lemon Status"

When a dealer has recalled or repurchased a vehicle due to major issues, it gains what is known as "lemon status." It's best not to purchase a vehicle that's been recalled because of the potential for problems going forward.

Records of Previous Owners

It's always good to know how many people have driven a vehicle. With a rental car, for example, you wouldn't have any estimate on who's been driving it, how much stress they put on the vehicle and how clean they kept it. Fewer owners, especially owners who've kept up with maintenance, signals that it might be a better vehicle in the long run.

Any Service or Maintenance Records

When a vehicle has been maintained properly, you should be provided with or be able to find a record of oil changes, tire rotations and regular checkups performed throughout the years. These records from Carfax can shine a light on any problems the vehicle might have experienced in the past and whether or not they have been fixed.

Any Warranties Still Valid

Depending on the age of the vehicle, Carfax will be able to tell you if any warranties might still be valid. Since some maintenance might still be covered under the warranty, this would be an added bonus of purchasing the vehicle.

Model-Specific Safety Information

Carfax should have crash-test information on the specific make and model of the vehicle. Included under this umbrella are safety recalls and other applicable safety information. A potential buyer would want to know this about a vehicle in the event that they ever got into an accident.

If you have any further questions about Carfax or any of our used vehicles, please feel free to contact us directly or stop by our dealership at 5525 Peachtree Industrial Blvd., Chamblee, GA 30341. We look forward to serving customers from Atlanta, Alpharetta and Gwinnett.