A cheaper Carfax alternative for private-seller cars
Carfax is about $45 for one report. Our title check is $9.99 by text and covers salvage, flood, junk, rebuilt and odometer records from NMVTIS. Carfax still wins on service and accident history.
Step 1: free VIN check
VIN
Carfax vs our title check
| What you get | Carfax | Our title check |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $44.99 for 1, $64.99 for 3, $99.99 for 6 | $9.99 for 1 car |
| How you pay | One time, on the website | One time. No account, no subscription. |
| NMVTIS title data | Not sold to consumers. Uses its own records from DMVs, shops, police and others. | Yes, through an approved provider |
| Title brands | Yes | Yes: salvage, flood, junk, rebuilt and other state brands |
| Odometer | Yes, every reported reading | Readings at each title change |
| Insurance total losses | Yes | Yes, from insurers |
| Accident records | Yes, reported accidents and damage | Only if it became a total loss |
| Service records | Yes, its main strength | No |
| How you get it | Website or app, instant | Text or WhatsApp. The report comes back in the chat. |
What Carfax has that we don't
- Service records from shops: oil changes, repairs, inspections.
- Reported accidents and damage, even when the car was fixed and never totaled.
- Number of owners and type of use, like rental or fleet.
- Dealers often include it for free with a listing.
Who should pick which
Pick Carfax if
- The car is at a dealer. Ask for the Carfax; it is often free.
- Maintenance history matters to you on a newer car.
- You want reported accidents that never became a total loss.
Pick our title check if
- You're buying from a private seller on Marketplace, OfferUp or Craigslist.
- You want to rule out salvage, flood, junk or a rolled-back odometer first.
- You're looking at a few cars and don't want to pay $45 for each.
Many buyers do both: the $9.99 title check on each car they like, then one Carfax on the car they pick.
How our title check works
Enter the VIN
Type the 17 characters from the windshield, the door sticker or the title.
Get the free basics
Year, make, model, engine, where it was built, and safety recalls for that model.
Text us for the full title check
We text you a payment link. Your report comes back in the same chat.
It comes from NMVTIS, the national title database that states, insurers and salvage yards report to. We get it through an approved provider.
Sources
Prices and features from each company's own site and public sources, checked Nov 2, 2026. We have not bought their reports. Check their site before you buy.
- Carfax: what its report covers
- CarWhere: Carfax prices at checkout, Sep 30, 2026
- NMVTIS consumer access list
Not affiliated with Carfax, AutoCheck, Experian or any other company named here.
More comparisons
Questions
Is there a free Carfax?
Not from Carfax for a car you choose yourself. Dealers often include a free Carfax with their listings, so ask. For a private sale, the VIN check on this page is free for the car's details and recalls, and the title check is $9.99.
Is your check the same data as Carfax?
No. We check NMVTIS title records: title brands, odometer readings at title changes, insurance total losses, and junk and salvage yard reports. Carfax adds service records and reported accidents from its own sources. The NMVTIS consumer list says consumers can't get NMVTIS reports from Carfax.
What is cheaper than Carfax?
NMVTIS reports from approved providers cost about $10 to $20 one time, or a $1 to $2 trial that turns into a monthly plan. Ours is $9.99 one time, by text.
Can a car have a clean Carfax and a branded title?
It can happen when a record reaches one database and not the other, or arrives late. That's one reason some buyers check both. A clean report is not a clean car. Have a mechanic look at it.
Do I need an account?
No. Text us the VIN, we text a payment link, and the report comes back in the same chat.
Check a car now
Type the VIN for the free details and recalls, then text us for the title check.
Check a VINNMVTIS does not have every car, and some states report late. A clean report is not a clean car. Have a mechanic look at it before you pay.