- Accident Indicator
CARFAX receives information about accidents in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Canada. Various events in a vehicle's history can indicate an accident, such as: salvage auction, fire damage, police-reported accident, crash test vehicle, damage disclosure, collision repair facility and automotive recycler records. Not every accident is reported and not all reported accidents are provided to CARFAX. Details about the accident (e.g. severity, impact location, airbag deployment) vary depending on the source of the accident indicator. CARFAX recommends you obtain a vehicle inspection from your dealer or an independent mechanic.
- According to the National Safety Council, Injury Facts, 2007 edition, 7% of the 245 million registered vehicles in the U.S. were involved in an accident in 2005. Over 75% of these were considered minor or moderate.
- CARFAX depends on many sources for its accident data. Each one of these sources has different processing times. CARFAX can only report what is in our database on 04.Sep.2008 15:16:28. New data will result in a change to this report.
- Provide an estimate of the extent of damage in its accident reports for the following:
- SEVERE: The vehicle cannot be driven from the accident scene due to severe damage or an injury. This level of damage often results in a Salvage or Junk title.
- MODERATE: The accident damage affects the operation of the vehicle and/or its parts. Examples include broken windows, trunk lids, doors, bumpers and tires.
- MINOR: The accident damage does not affect the operation of the vehicle. Examples include dented bumpers, fenders, grills and body panels. This level of accident should not compromise vehicle safety.
- NO DAMAGE: The vehicle was not damaged.
- Are required if the estimated damage exceeds $500
- Are released to CARFAX approximately 3 months after the accident date
- Airbag Deployment
Occurs when the driver, passenger or side airbag has been used or deployed during a crash or other incident. If an airbag has been deployed, it must be replaced by a qualified technician. Have this car inspected by a mechanic prior to purchase. Use CARFAX Airbag Tips to make sure this vehicle's airbag system is functional.
- Automotive Recycler
Vehicles sold at an automotive recycler are often totaled by insurance companies. The majority of these vehicles are 1) rebuilt and sold as a complete vehicle, 2) dismantled and sold for parts, or 3) scrapped and sold as metal. On occasion, they also handle vehicles with no specific damage history.
- First Owner
When the first owner(s) obtains a title from a Department of Motor Vehicles as proof of ownership.
- Lease
When someone leases a car from a dealer, the dealer actually sells the vehicle to a leasing company. The leasing company then collects payments for the vehicle from the new owner for 24, 36, 48 or more months. A leasing company can be an independent car dealer or a car manufacturer.
- Manufacturer Recall
Automobile manufacturers issue recall notices to inform owners of car defects that have come to the manufacturer's attention. Recalls also suggest improvements that can be made to improve the safety of a particular vehicle. Most manufacturer recalls can be repaired at no cost to you.
- New Owner Reported
When a vehicle is sold to a new owner, the Title must be transferred to the new owner(s) at a Department of Motor Vehicles.
- Ownership History
CARFAX defines an owner as an individual or business that possesses and uses a vehicle. Not all title transactions represent changes in ownership. To provide estimated number of owners, CARFAX proprietary technology analyzes all the events in a vehicle history. Estimated ownership is available for vehicles manufactured after 1994 and titled solely in the US including Puerto Rico. Dealers sometimes opt to take ownership of a vehicle and are required to in the following states: Maine, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania and South Dakota. Please consider this as you review a vehicle's estimated ownership history.
- Rebuilt/Reconstructed Title
A Rebuilt/Reconstructed vehicle is a salvage vehicle that has been repaired and restored to operation. These vehicles are often severely damaged before they are rebuilt and refurbished parts are typically used during reconstruction. In most states, an inspection of the vehicle is required before the vehicle is allowed to return to the road.
- Salvage Title
A Salvage Title is issued on a vehicle damaged to the extent that the cost of repairing the vehicle exceeds ~ 75% of its pre-damage value. This damage threshold may vary by state. Some states treat Junk titles the same as Salvage but the majority use this title to indicate that a vehicle is not road worthy and cannot be titled again in that state. The following eleven states also use Salvage titles to identify stolen vehicles - AZ, FL, GA, IL, MD, MN, NJ, NM, NY, OK and OR.
- Title Issued
A state issues a title to provide a vehicle owner with proof of ownership. Each title has a unique number. Each title or registration record on a CARFAX report does not necessarily indicate a change in ownership. In Canada, a registration and bill of sale are used as proof of ownership.
- Title Washing
Title Washing is the process through which a vehicle's title is altered to conceal information that would normally be included. This can be accomplished by either physically altering printed documents or reapplying for a title without disclosing its prior history. Since the CARFAX database retains information about branded titles from all 50 states and the Canadian provinces, the CARFAX Report may help uncover potential title washing.
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