carfax is unreliable

I was in an accident last year. It wasn't deadly, but it did
cause paint damage to the passenger side. A cop even filed a complete
report.

Yesterday, I inputted my VIN in carfax and carfax came back with a full
report saying my car had never been in an accident.

My point is, how can I find carfax reliable if it didn't even
report that my car was in an accident?

Since I'm using carfax to check on another vehicle that I want to
purchase, how do I know that the information regarding the other
vehicle is accurate?

 

Carfax is complete horseshit. My truck was wrecked by my ex 5 times, all
insurance repairs at dealerships. Gee, clean carfax. Her car flooded and
totaled, 3 years ago, clean carfax.

 

afaik, carfax only shows up write-offs, as shown by insurance companies,
or dealer service records, or changes of ownership. yours clearly
weren't any of those.

besides, how much detail do you want? otherwise carfax would be showing
up garbage like "replaced lost hubcap" or even "filled with gas at
rhonerts park casa de gasa, 57,327 miles". can't say /i/ care to have
records on how much bubblegum i buy at gas stations showing up on my car
history.

 

From my experience CarFax only works if something is reported to them,
If an accident is not reported, it won't just "show up" on a report

 

afaik, carfax only shows up write-offs, as shown by insurance companies,

You would want to buy a vehicle that has had several repairs each over $5000
to the front end? 3 of which required trips to the frame straightener. Thats
info that should be in there. What about the flood damaged/totaled car?

From Carfax Page:
Title
Check

Salvaged?
Lemon?
Flooded?
Rebuilt?

Odometer
Check

Fraud?
Rolled Over?
Rolled Back?
Broken?

Problem
Check

Major Accident?
Salvage Auction?
Fire Damage?
Stolen?



Major Accidents, flooded, rebuilt are all listed. So in answer to your
question I would expect all those to be listed. No minor fender benders,
hubcaps stolen or crap like that.

 

like i said before, as far as carfax are concerned, if it's not written
off by the insurance company, as is the case with a $5k fix on a $20k
car, it doesn't get reported. you have a point about /wanting/ to see
damage data, but again, if the work was not reported by the dealer or
the insurer, how are car fax going to know? the only 3 possible data
sources are dealers, with their huge centraly computerized systems,
insurers, with their huge centraly computerized systems, and dmv.
monster joe's garage just isn't in the loop and isn't reporting a thing.

you're right, it would be /nice/ to know more, but where's the info
coming from?

 

When my wifes car got hit, I asked the insurance company if it
would be reported to carfax. They said not if you don't want us to...
Sold! Don't say a word. Carfax is basically what it seems, a public
records search, but nobody is obligated to keep that stuff current.
Don't ever trust it as a buying point over having the car checked
over by a reputable tech.
Chip

 

i was going to make that point earlier! so true - records have little
value in the face of a good physical inspection by a tech that knows
their business.

 

good lawd. I just spent more than $20 subscription (1 month) to
carfax to check on used vehicles, just so I can check if it had been in
previous accidents or not.

I feel so scammed.

 

after the first time, she wouldnt be touching my ride.

 

dont... its better than nothing. its not perfect, but nothing is.

 

Use a Bondo magnet report instead

 

Words to live by.

 

And I wouldnt be touching her "ride"! Although mysteriously my
insurance went from 350 a month to about 80 a month after divorcing her
useless ass.