Is Carfax worth it?
Often yes for a dealer car, where it's usually free, or a newer car with service history. As the first check on a private-seller car, often no: a $9.99 title check rules out salvage, flood and odometer problems first.
Step 1: free VIN check
VIN
What you get for about $45
- Service records from shops that report to Carfax.
- Reported accidents and damage.
- Owners, type of use, title brands and odometer readings.
- Price: $44.99 for 1, $64.99 for 3, $99.99 for 6 at checkout (CarWhere, Sep 30, 2026).
When it's worth it
- The seller is a dealer. Ask first: many dealers give it for free.
- The car is newer and was serviced at shops, so there is history to see.
- You've picked the car and want accident records before you pay.
When to skip it or wait
- You're still comparing cars. $45 each adds up fast.
- It's an older car from a private seller, often serviced at home or in cash.
- Your main worry is a salvage, flood or junk title, or a rolled-back odometer.
A cheaper order that works
- Run the free VIN check on this page: details and recalls.
- Get the $9.99 title check on each car you like.
- Buy one Carfax on the car you pick, if service history matters.
- Have a mechanic look at it before you pay.
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
How much is a Carfax?
$44.99 for one report, $64.99 for 3 and $99.99 for 6, as seen at checkout on Sep 30, 2026. Check the site for today's price.
How do I get a Carfax for free?
Ask the dealer. Many dealer listings include a free Carfax link. Private sellers rarely have one.
Can a Carfax be wrong or miss things?
It shows only what was reported to it. Repairs paid in cash and accidents with no insurance claim may never appear. A clean report is not a clean car.
Is AutoCheck cheaper?
Yes, about $25 to $30 for one report. It has fewer service records.
What's the cheapest way to check a title?
An NMVTIS report from an approved provider, about $10 to $20. Ours is $9.99 by text.
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.