anne
i want to know what the incidences are without paying for them on car facts. is there somewhere else i can find out this info for free?
Answer
not free but basic carfax will go along way
not free but basic carfax will go along way
how do I get a FREE carfax for a car that I want to purchase?
Robert
Answer
Other than the information in the vehicle summary,There is no FREE "Full history reports".,,,unless it is supplied by the seller
Even Dealers have to pay for each report that they run,
And carfax will pay dealers a commission if you click on a carfax link from a dealer website and then YOU pay for an account.
However:
There is a lot "data" that you can collect on your own though... without spending a dime.
*******************
Free data source #1
Check the dealers website
If a reputable dealer is signed on (paid subscriptions) to Carfax or Autocheck, the dealers own website can publish the reports to potential buyers. This info is free to the buyers because the sellers have already paid for it.
NOTE!!!
If you click on a link to "view the report" from a dealer site, and it redirects you to a site that AGAIN asks you to PAY for the report, then that particular dealer is NOT a paid subscriber, BUT that dealer MAY receive a referral fee when YOU pay for the report.
___________________
Free data source #2
Ask the private owner/seller to show you the report
Private sellers often purchase a vehicle history report and can show it to potential buyers too. That should be considered the cost of doing business and the seller can absorb the fee.
(^^BEST PRACTICE for reputable sellers)
___________________
Free data source #3
National Insurance Crime Bureau site offers up to 5 free inquiries (VINs)a day. They collect data about vehicles reported as stolen and about vehicles reported as "total loss" (due to flood, fire, accident/collision )or "salvaged" (rebuilt/reconstructed).
_______________
Free data source #4
Carfax
Yes Carfax! At the bottom of the Carfax home page, there are several FREE SERVICES: Lemon Check® | Record Check⢠| Recall Check⢠| Problem Car Check⢠|
The information that will be provided will be very basic and will STILL encourage you to PURCHASE their services.
_______________
Free data source #5
Manufacturer sites.
The original manufacturer of the vehicles often has an "Owner Resource Center" website that can give you a plethora of information ..such as; owners manuals, maintenance requirements, recall information, etc.
For example, Ford has a section where you can enter any Ford VIN and it will tell you if there are any recalls on that vehicle
( http://www.ford.com/owner-services/customer-support/recall-information )
___________________
Free data source #6
Internet Search Engines
You might be surprised at how much information you will find by "googling" a vehicle identification number (VIN). For instance, if you find the SAME vehicle is listed "for sale" at more that one "dealer".... One of them could be a scam site that has "scraped" the other (legitimate) site and is trying to scam buyers.
___________________
Free data source #7
NHTSA-odi
(National Highway Transportation Safety Administration-office of defects investigation)
At this website consumers can look up ; recalls, technical service bulletins, consumer complaints, and defect investigations. There could be inherent problems with particular years/makes/models (vehicles).
___________________
***FINALLY
After researching the free data, you should be able to narrow down your choices of vehicles that you are seriously considering for purchase.
That would be the time for you to actually get out the checkbook and spend some of your money on an actual physical inspection of the vehicles that made it to the "short list".
Before you purchase ANY vehicle, it would be very wise to pay a skilled/trained/certified technician/mechanic to inspect the vehicle in person.
I hope this helps.
Other than the information in the vehicle summary,There is no FREE "Full history reports".,,,unless it is supplied by the seller
Even Dealers have to pay for each report that they run,
And carfax will pay dealers a commission if you click on a carfax link from a dealer website and then YOU pay for an account.
However:
There is a lot "data" that you can collect on your own though... without spending a dime.
*******************
Free data source #1
Check the dealers website
If a reputable dealer is signed on (paid subscriptions) to Carfax or Autocheck, the dealers own website can publish the reports to potential buyers. This info is free to the buyers because the sellers have already paid for it.
NOTE!!!
If you click on a link to "view the report" from a dealer site, and it redirects you to a site that AGAIN asks you to PAY for the report, then that particular dealer is NOT a paid subscriber, BUT that dealer MAY receive a referral fee when YOU pay for the report.
___________________
Free data source #2
Ask the private owner/seller to show you the report
Private sellers often purchase a vehicle history report and can show it to potential buyers too. That should be considered the cost of doing business and the seller can absorb the fee.
(^^BEST PRACTICE for reputable sellers)
___________________
Free data source #3
National Insurance Crime Bureau site offers up to 5 free inquiries (VINs)a day. They collect data about vehicles reported as stolen and about vehicles reported as "total loss" (due to flood, fire, accident/collision )or "salvaged" (rebuilt/reconstructed).
_______________
Free data source #4
Carfax
Yes Carfax! At the bottom of the Carfax home page, there are several FREE SERVICES: Lemon Check® | Record Check⢠| Recall Check⢠| Problem Car Check⢠|
The information that will be provided will be very basic and will STILL encourage you to PURCHASE their services.
_______________
Free data source #5
Manufacturer sites.
The original manufacturer of the vehicles often has an "Owner Resource Center" website that can give you a plethora of information ..such as; owners manuals, maintenance requirements, recall information, etc.
For example, Ford has a section where you can enter any Ford VIN and it will tell you if there are any recalls on that vehicle
( http://www.ford.com/owner-services/customer-support/recall-information )
___________________
Free data source #6
Internet Search Engines
You might be surprised at how much information you will find by "googling" a vehicle identification number (VIN). For instance, if you find the SAME vehicle is listed "for sale" at more that one "dealer".... One of them could be a scam site that has "scraped" the other (legitimate) site and is trying to scam buyers.
___________________
Free data source #7
NHTSA-odi
(National Highway Transportation Safety Administration-office of defects investigation)
At this website consumers can look up ; recalls, technical service bulletins, consumer complaints, and defect investigations. There could be inherent problems with particular years/makes/models (vehicles).
___________________
***FINALLY
After researching the free data, you should be able to narrow down your choices of vehicles that you are seriously considering for purchase.
That would be the time for you to actually get out the checkbook and spend some of your money on an actual physical inspection of the vehicles that made it to the "short list".
Before you purchase ANY vehicle, it would be very wise to pay a skilled/trained/certified technician/mechanic to inspect the vehicle in person.
I hope this helps.
Powered by Yahoo! Answers
No comments:
Post a Comment