Carfax and title checks

[Rich_NYS]

I'd like to get a Carfax and title search done for a car I'm looking at. I'm trying to determine if the odometer has rolled over and hoping to find a clue with one of these checks. I'm not obsessed with the mileage, just trying to do as much homework as possible.

The Carfax is $40, Autocheck is $30, and both shows there are 3 records. The owner is the 2nd owner, I'm guessing that explains the number of records (Dealer, Owner 1, Owner 2.)

I'm looking for some input as to whether or not the Carfax would be helpful in determining the mileage and/or worth the money any thoughts on which report is a better choice.

Also, any help with doing a title search and what that might produce.

Thanks!

-Rich

[OverlandMan]

I'd like to get a Carfax and title search done for a car I'm looking at. I'm trying to determine if the odometer has rolled over and hoping to find a clue with one of these checks. I'm not obsessed with the mileage, just trying to do as much homework as possible.

The Carfax is $40, Autocheck is $30, and both shows there are 3 records. The owner is the 2nd owner, I'm guessing that explains the number of records (Dealer, Owner 1, Owner 2.)

I'm looking for some input as to whether or not the Carfax would be helpful in determining the mileage and/or worth the money any thoughts on which report is a better choice.

Also, any help with doing a title search and what that might produce.

Thanks!

-Rich

The carfax on my car showed the wrong mileage so I wouldn't take it as the gospel. Mileage is a relatively insignificant attribute of these cars. Most folks think the more miles on the car means its been used and taken care of; not always the case but food for thought.

Carfax and like services are more for checking on salvage titles, failed emissions, accidents and other insurance claims, stuff like that.

[Dangermouse]

I'd like to get a Carfax and title search done for a car I'm looking at. I'm trying to determine if the odometer has rolled over and hoping to find a clue with one of these checks. I'm not obsessed with the mileage, just trying to do as much homework as possible.

The Carfax is $40, Autocheck is $30, and both shows there are 3 records. The owner is the 2nd owner, I'm guessing that explains the number of records (Dealer, Owner 1, Owner 2.)

I'm looking for some input as to whether or not the Carfax would be helpful in determining the mileage and/or worth the money any thoughts on which report is a better choice.

-Rich

I doubt if you would get satisfaction confirming the mileage this way. It would depend on the state the car is in. The three records could just be the last three emissions records (if it is in a state that requires them) and some states do not record mileage. It won't be the Dealer/PO1/PO2. Hopefully one would be PO2 title, that may have a mileage noted.

I have seen records where the clerk has added 100000 to the mileage, presumably because they felt a 30 year old car should have more miles. So you have 9 records that say 23,xxx - 34,xxx and one stuck in the middle that says 129,xxx, for example. And many DeLoreans don't have 10 records.

The AC will give you as much info for these cars as Carfax and if you are dropping 10s of thousands $ on potentially buying the car, it is worth getting. You never know what may show up on it.

The PO's maintenance files are vastly more useful, if he/she has them.

[Bill6298]

FWIW, I paid $5 or $10 for vinaudit.com a few weeks ago. I already own the car but wanted to get a bit of history about the number of previous owners, locations, etc... It turns out the only title record that showed up on my cheap vinaudit.com report was my initial title activity back in 2002. My previous owner, who was also a Florida resident, did not show up and he titled it in the mid-to-late 1990s. vinaudit.com ended up being a waste of time.

I couldn't bring myself to pay for another Carfax recently but I think I bought one in 2002. I recall it showed an accident but no other information. IMHO, get the Carfax before spending the money on the car. It was worth it for me. No idea on autocheck.

[NightFlyer]

Don't bother with the Carfax or Experian/AutoCheck. I ran the VIN, and here's the three events:

Vehicle: 1982 DeLorean Delorean (SCEDT26T7CD0XXXXX)
Event Date Event Location Odometer Reading Data Source Event Detail
05/09/2000 MILLBROOK, NY Motor Vehicle Dept. REGISTRATION EVENT/RENEWAL
06/06/2000 MILLBROOK, NY Motor Vehicle Dept. TITLE (Lien Reported)
05/10/2002 MILLBROOK, NY Motor Vehicle Dept. REGISTRATION EVENT/RENEWAL

Unfortunately, odometer readings are not reported. On the up side, everything else looks good.

I'm PM'ing you a link that you can follow to view the AutoCheck for yourself.

[Rich_NYS]

Don't bother with the Carfax or Experian/AutoCheck. I ran the VIN, and here's the three events:

Vehicle: 1982 DeLorean Delorean (SCEDT26T7CD0XXXXX)
Event Date Event Location Odometer Reading Data Source Event Detail
05/09/2000 MILLBROOK, NY Motor Vehicle Dept. REGISTRATION EVENT/RENEWAL
06/06/2000 MILLBROOK, NY Motor Vehicle Dept. TITLE (Lien Reported)
05/10/2002 MILLBROOK, NY Motor Vehicle Dept. REGISTRATION EVENT/RENEWAL

Unfortunately, odometer readings are not reported. On the up side, everything else looks good.

I'm PM'ing you a link that you can follow to view the AutoCheck for yourself.


Thanks!

[David T]

Thanks!

If you can see the receipts for service work or can contact the place that did the work they my have records with mileage. P J Grady is the closest vendor and may have some records on the car.

[LEVY]

I'd like to get a Carfax and title search done for a car I'm looking at. I'm trying to determine if the odometer has rolled over and hoping to find a clue with one of these checks. I'm not obsessed with the mileage, just trying to do as much homework as possible.

The Carfax is $40, Autocheck is $30, and both shows there are 3 records. The owner is the 2nd owner, I'm guessing that explains the number of records (Dealer, Owner 1, Owner 2.)

I'm looking for some input as to whether or not the Carfax would be helpful in determining the mileage and/or worth the money any thoughts on which report is a better choice.

Also, any help with doing a title search and what that might produce.

Thanks!

-Rich

I once ran Autocheck on over 100 Delorean VIN's, not very useful information found but, most Deloreans ranked high, that report might help you if you are selling your vehicle, not buying.

The main reason is that most Deloreans spend most of their lifes sitting somewhere, even abandoned, rotted Deloreans ranked high!

Note: We bought the first Delorean with no title, it was an abandoned vehicle, no previous owner information either. We titled this vehicle in Texas, now a Carfax report ranks high, not even shows it as being an abandoned vehicle.

LEVY