Nickdigg

Can anyone run my vin? Have an unlimited account?
Carfax, Autocheck?
Help a fellow yota lover out?

PM me, thanks!

Odin

I've been wanting to do that too. I Googled free Carfax and looked at all the links I could stand. Nothing was free except for the lemon and recall check.

I wanted to ask but didn't know if it was appropriate to ask on the forum.

Nickdigg

I debated asking, but found some old threads where people did and had some guys hook them up. Some people have paid subscriptions with unlimited checks so I figured it was worth a try. I too looked everywhere for the best deal, sounds like unless you pay the $40 for carfax you get poor or fake info, or get scammed into giving out your credit card number.

scope103

I assume you want something like a "Carfax" report, not just have the VIN validated (does the checksum match) and decoded (year, model)

Personally, I don't think you're missing much. If you were looking at a 2011 Tundra, if it had been "totalled" in an accident the owner almost certainly had insurance, and that will "probably" get reported to CarFax. If you're looking at an '88 pickup truck that had been in a bad accident 3 years ago, what is the chance the owner even had collision insurance? A garage isn't obligated to report anything, and it might have been hammered back together in someone's backyard.

Recalls (not TSBs) are available from the NHTSA site for free.

Before you lay down your $45, look at the sources of information you're getting http://www.carfax.com/about/data_sources.cfx , and make a decision about whether that will do you any good anyway.

Odin

I had thought about that. It's mostly curiosity for me.


You should be able to detect major damage by looking around.
Look in each wheel well for damage. Also get the truck up on jack stands and look around for signs of a bent and straightened frame. An alignment shop can usually pick it out in short order.

Flood damage is a whole other deal though. In years gone by some states have actually been able to somehow get salvaged titles normalized in a new state. I've seen a couple reports on TV about that.

Nickdigg

I already own the truck, just interested in anything that's been reported over the last 20 years. Recorded mileage, number of owners, dealer work.

Odin

Look down in the grey area of this page. There are a couple of free checks they can run if you fill in your vin. I don't recall needing to input any of my information for that stuff.
Free Lemon Check, Free Recall Check, Free Odometer Check. It's too bad these aren't the ones that everyone really wants.

http://www.carfax.com/free_carfax_reports.cfx

Their service is RIDICULOUSLY EXPENSIVE!!!

mct75

https://www.nicb.org/theft_and_fraud_awareness/vincheck

The only VIN check that really matters.

Odin

Thanks man.
According to that one my truck wasn't reported as a stolen vehicle or a total loss so that's good.

mct75

Good deal. I didn't mean to come off as an ass earlier, it's just that Carfax is hit or miss on such old vehicles. I'd almost rather have a car that's been wrecked/rebuilt recently than one that has sat and rotted for 30 years.

Odin

lol, no you weren't doing that.

At times the internet is a touchy thing that often leads to misunderstanding because you can't see a person's face to see and sense their true emotions at the time.