Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know about Carfax vehicle history reports.
Where to find the VIN on your car
- On the windshield, lower corner on the driver's side (very common).
- On the driver's door pillar, as a sticker (very common).
- On the door threshold (less common).
- Under the hood — on the engine block or the firewall between engine and cabin.
- In your vehicle registration and insurance documents.
The VIN is a unique 17-character code that identifies your car — enter it on our homepage for a free vehicle history check.
About Reports
What information is included in a Carfax report?
A Carfax report may include: accident and damage history, mileage data across years, registration and ownership history, service and repair records, legal status (liens, stolen vehicle checks), usage conditions (taxi, rental, lease), fault codes and recall campaigns, and factory technical specifications. The exact set of records depends on available data for the specific vehicle.
What is a Carfax vehicle history report?
A Carfax vehicle history report is a full background check by VIN: accident and damage history, mileage readings, ownership changes, service records and a history-based value estimate. It is the fastest way to verify a used car — including AutoCheck-style data — before you buy.
What does a Carfax accident and damage report show?
A Carfax accident and damage report reveals reported collisions, structural and frame damage, airbag deployment, salvage and total-loss records, and other damage events tied to the VIN — so you know a used car's real condition before buying.
Which countries and regions do you cover?
CFax provides vehicle history reports for cars from the USA and Canada. Coverage depends on the data available for a specific VIN. Enter the VIN on our homepage — we will immediately show whether a report is available and how many records it contains, free of charge.
How many records does the report contain?
The number of records varies by vehicle. You can see the record count for free before purchasing — just enter the VIN on the homepage. Along with the count, you also get basic vehicle characteristics (make, model, year, engine) free of charge.
Can I download or print a report?
Yes. Every purchased report can be downloaded as a PDF or printed straight from your Dashboard — use the icons next to the report. The PDF is easy to share with a mechanic, seller or buyer.
Pricing & Payment
How much is a Carfax report and what does it cost?
How much a Carfax report costs depends on your plan: the standard price is $2.00 per report. You can lower the Carfax report cost with packages — the more reports in a package, the cheaper each one. See all packages on the Reports page.
Do reports expire?
No. Once reports are added to your balance they do not expire. Purchased reports are also saved permanently in your Dashboard and can be re-opened at any time.
Do you offer discounts?
Yes, two kinds. Report packages: the more reports in a package, the lower the price per report. Personal discount: regular customers get an individual discount that is applied automatically to all packages — you will see it in your Dashboard.
Account & Access
Where can I find my purchased reports?
All purchased reports are saved in your Dashboard (Cabinet in the top menu). You can re-open any report at any time — there is no limit on how many times you view a report you have already purchased.
Can I check a VIN without creating an account?
Yes — you can enter any VIN on the homepage and see whether a report exists and how many records it contains, completely free and without registration. To purchase and download the full report you will need to create a free account.
Will my searches made before registration be saved?
Yes. If you checked VINs as a guest and then created an account, right after signing up we will offer to import your previous search history into your Dashboard.
How do I change my password or delete my account?
Open Account Settings via the user menu in the top right corner. There you can change your password or permanently delete your account together with all its data.
Didn't find your answer? Run a VIN check or contact us.