CARFAX vs carVertical
The two reports are built for different cars. The question is not which is better, but where your car has spent its life.
Start with the free VIN check
See which reports have records for the car before you pay anything.
- Original CARFAX and AutoCheck reports
- One-time price, no subscription
- In your browser + PDF by e-mail
What each report is built from
-
CARFAX
Records from state motor-vehicle agencies, insurers, repair and service shops, dealers, auctions and police reports in the United States and Canada.
-
carVertical
By its own description, it does not create history data itself but gathers and compiles records from registries, insurers, law enforcement and other institutions in many countries.
Which to buy, by situation
-
Buying in the US, car always in the US
CARFAX, or CARFAX with AutoCheck.
-
Buying in Europe, car imported from the US
CARFAX for the US years — that is where a salvage title or auction sale would show. Add a European report for the years since import.
-
Buying in the US, car imported from abroad
A report with international sources for the years before import, CARFAX for the years since.
-
Car always in Europe
CARFAX's US and Canadian records will hold little. Use a European service.
What to look for in a US car's history abroad
Most US cars exported after damage went through an auction first.
-
A salvage, rebuilt or flood title brand before export.
-
An auction sale at Copart or IAAI, with photos of the damage.
-
The last US mileage reading, to compare with the odometer today.
-
An export record, which marks the end of the US history.
Frequently asked questions
Does carVertical work for US cars?
It includes US title-brand information, but the detailed owner, accident and service history of a US car is deeper in CARFAX and AutoCheck.
Does CARFAX work for European cars?
Only if the car was once registered in the United States or Canada. For a car that never left Europe it will hold little or nothing.
Do I need both reports?
For an import, often yes: one report for each part of the car's life.
Which is cheaper?
Prices change and differ by country. Compare what each report covers for your car first.
Can I see the auction photos of an imported US car?
Yes, when the car was sold at Copart or IAAI. The auction record shows the photos taken before the sale.
How do I check before paying?
Run the VIN in the free check. It shows whether CARFAX, AutoCheck and the auctions hold records for that car.
Check a VIN now
Enter the 17-character VIN: the free check shows which reports have records for the car and what each one costs.
Check a VIN for free