by Lina Maini

For a variety of reasons (defect history, ownership records, prior accidents…) attorneys often turn to Carfax for vehicle background checks in MVA-related incidents, car purchases and increasingly, in bad faith online car sales actions (usually processed through ebay).

Carfax is a private corporation; compliance is voluntary. Many dealerships join Carfax to lend credibility to their merchandise and often, potential buyers uncover previously unknown details that influence his or her purchasing decision. CarFax legitimately compiles as much information as is publicly available on vehicles in their registry but Carfax should never be mistaken for a governmental agency or presumed to provide complete and vetted information. It is simply a general-access information tool (albeit one of the better ones available) and should be treated accordingly – as a starting point in any vehicle investigation or research.

Be thorough and use a variety of sources such as:

- the owner’s personal records
- your state’s DMV records
- safercar.gov (a division of the NHTSA) for vehicle recalls and defect records

BNI Operatives: Street smart; Web savvy.

As always, stay safe.

Filed under: carfax, compliance, dmv, mva, nhtsa, safercar.gov, warranty registry