CARFAX® vs. AutoCheck® vs. Dealer Inspection: What Each Actually Tells You
One of the biggest reasons to consider a Certified Pre-Owned vehicle is because it will come with a history report. This will give you an excellent idea of a car’s condition, as it offers details on previous repairs, replacements, and possible accidents. It’s important to remember, however, that when looking for used cars near me, not every type of history report tells you the same thing. Here, Moran Certified Pre-Owned looks at CARFAX® and AutoCheck®, along with dealer inspections.
CARFAX®
CARFAX® is one of the most trusted auto database platforms, as it has billions of reports. Updated daily, it gets its information from numerous places, including
- Departments of motor vehicles
- Vehicle inspection stations
- Service departments
- Car manufacturers and dealerships
- Police departments
- Insurance organizations
CARFAX® offers detailed information on the number of owners a car has had, the duration of ownership, and the approximate mileage. In addition, it will let you know about the vehicle’s basic equipment and the status of the airbags, along with visits for service and routine maintenance and accidents.
AutoCheck®
While not as detailed as CARFAX®, AutoCheck® will tell you about mileage, maintenance, and accident history. A big difference between the two is that AutoCheck® grades cars on a 100-point scale that compares the vehicle’s history with similar vehicles of the same age and class, with the score representing its predicted reliability.
Dealer Inspections
While both platforms above can give you a good idea of what to expect with your Certified Pre-Owned car, you won’t know for sure unless it is examined by the pros. With a dealer inspection, trained and certified technicians will look at the entire vehicle inside and out to thoroughly gauge its condition. It should be noted that not all accidents are reported to AutoCheck® and CARFAX® If, for example, someone decides to fix a fender-bender on their own, this will never make it into a history report. With a dealer inspection, potentially shoddy repairs will be discovered.
Make the Smart Choice with Your Used Car Purchase at Moran Certified Pre-Owned
Diligence is key when shopping for a used car. To find a quality car you can count on, visit our used car dealership in Chesterfield, MI. Our models are rigorously inspected, and we stand behind everything we sell. Questions about history reports, auto financing, or anything else? Contact us.