Buying a car is a big commitment. Even a used car can be a large investment so you want to make sure the car is in good condition. Used car reports like Carfax and AutoCheck are handy in determining previous accidents and the condition of used cars.
But how reliable are these reports? Are they completely accurate?
Unfortunately not. A study from Consumer Reports found that in many cases, these reports leave out important information about previous accidents and repair history.
Study findings
Consumer Reports tested out the truth of reports from places like Carfax and AutoCheck by ordering history reports for a few dozen vehicles from eBay and erepairables.com. According to the article, they found the reports were usually inaccurate for vehicles with serious damage.
In some cases, the vehicles tested had been involved in serious accidents and underwent expensive repairs, but this information was not included in the reports.
Based on this, it’s clear that vehicle reports from these major places cannot be completely trusted.
What should you do?
If you are thinking of buying a used car, you might want to take extra precautions. Have an experienced mechanic look over the car for potential issues, rather than relying on car history report sites.
You should also be sure to test drive any vehicle you are planning on buying, before you make the final sale.
While car report sites can appear useful, you should make sure you have all information from multiple sources before making a decision.
Articles
