Drive like a hero. Check like a pro.
With CARFAX, you get access to the largest global database of vehicle history information with more than 45 billion historical events. Obtain valuable information, such as known accidents, damages, or theft reports from 32 countries.
Before buying a used car just say: Show me the CARFAX
Take a look at this example of what information we can offer in our Vehicle History Reports.
We check every car for any reports of:
- Damage or accidents
- Maintenance and inspections
- Mileage manipulations
- Import information
- Thefts
- Change of ownership
- Taxi or rental car use
- Open recalls of the manufacturer
- Taxi or rental car use
- Open recalls of the manufacturer
How we help you find the best car
At CARFAX, we collect events from the lives of millions of used cars from 30 European countries, as well as the USA and Canada. We can then create a vehicle history for every car in our database and make it available to you. The information helps you to check sales data, avoid expensive follow-up costs and negotiate a fair purchase price.
What makes us special:
Everything you need to know about the CARFAX Report
A CARFAX Vehicle History Report shows all the information available to us about a vehicle and may include information from different sources.
Public records may include:
Ownership history
Financial liens and administrative restrictions
Roadworthiness inspections and technical checks
Registration information
Additional vehicle history information may include:
Accident and damage records from multiple European countries, the US and Canada
Estimated repair costs
Mileage history and anomaly detection
Stolen vehicle information
Inspection history
Import and export records
And much more
CARFAX offers tailored Vehicle History Reports for many European countries, including Italy, Spain, Poland, Germany and the Netherlands. Depending on the country, reports may contain market-specific information and can typically be accessed through the local language version of the CARFAX website.
To check if a CARFAX Vehicle History Report is available, you will usually need either the vehicle's VIN (Vehicle Identification Number) or, in selected markets, the license plate.
How long does it take to get a CARFAX report?
The report is available instantly after payment.
You will receive:
A PDF version of your report by email immediately after purchase
Access to the online version for 30 days
What does this mean for you?
You benefit from a broader view of the vehicle's history, including information that may exist outside the country where the vehicle is currently registered.
You get immediate access to a vehicle history report, helping you understand the vehicle's background before making a purchase decision. Should there be any update on the data, reported to CARFAX on your specific car, the 30 days access will allow you to receive this update for free. After the 30 days period you will have to renew your access through purchase.
More information. More context. More confidence.
The information in CARFAX Vehicle History Reports comes from a broad network of trusted sources across Europe and beyond.
These sources may include:
Government authorities and official vehicle registries
Vehicle manufacturers
Automotive associations
Digital service and software providers
Commercial data aggregators
Workshops and dealerships
Insurance-related sources where permitted
Other businesses throughout the automotive value chain
How we collect and use data
We work exclusively with carefully selected and authorized partners. We do not use unauthorized data acquisition methods or scraping techniques. CARFAX combines publicly available information with data provided through long-term partnerships across the automotive industry and creates one of the most comprehensive vehicle history reports available in Europe.
What does this mean for you?
Instead of searching across multiple sources, you can review relevant vehicle history information in one place and make a more informed decision.
Many of our sources deliberately choose CARFAX as their primary - and in some cases even exclusive - partner for sharing their data. That’s because this collaboration is not just about data sharing, but above all about bringing greater transparency to the used-car market.
Partners trust CARFAX because we:
Process data responsibly and carefully
Use information in compliance with regulations
Make vehicle reports quickly accessible and easy to understand
For more than 40 years, CARFAX has helped consumers and businesses better understand vehicle histories.
Today, CARFAX works with 100,000+ data sources and applies advanced report intelligence to transform complex data into clear, useful information.
CARFAX strives to provide:
Reliable information
High-quality data
Transparency for consumers
What does this mean for you?
When evaluating a used vehicle, you can rely on a report built from trusted sources and decades of vehicle history expertise.
Customers most frequently highlight the speed, clarity and depth of information provided by CARFAX.
Fast Access
Reports are available instantly
Immediate online access after purchase
Clear and Detailed Information
Easy-to-understand report structure
Detailed vehicle history information
User-friendly presentation
Comprehensive Coverage
Extensive vehicle history data
Cross-border information where available
Multiple data sources combined in one report
Reliability
Information is perceived as trustworthy
Customers frequently mention accuracy and consistency
Peace of Mind
Helps customers make better decisions
Reduces uncertainty when buying a used vehicle
Provides added confidence before purchase
What does this mean for you?
CARFAX helps simplify complex vehicle history information so you can make decisions with greater confidence.
Some customers mention that a report contains less information than they expected.
Typical concerns include:
Limited available data for a specific vehicle
Missing information they expected to find
Reports that do not significantly affect their purchasing decision
Why Does This Happen?
The amount of available information depends on the individual vehicle.
Information can vary depending on:
The vehicle's history
Whether events were recorded
Data availability from source providers
An Important Fact
This is true for all vehicle history reports, not just CARFAX.
No provider can guarantee a complete vehicle history or 100% coverage of all events. Some events may never have been recorded or shared through centralized systems.
Our Approach
We believe in transparency.
That's why we:
Share all available information
Clearly explain limitations
Continuously improve data coverage and quality
What does this mean for you?
You can evaluate a vehicle based on the information available while understanding any limitations in the underlying data.
A CARFAX Vehicle History Report can help you avoid costly mistakes when purchasing a used vehicle.
The price of a report is typically small compared with the value of the vehicle and may help identify risks before you buy.
What goes into a CARFAX Report?
Creating a CARFAX report involves:
Gathering data from 100,000+ sources
Processing information from multiple countries
Analyzing 45+ billion vehicle history records
Cleaning and validating data
Connecting records across systems and languages
Delivering results instantly
Trusted by Professionals
CARFAX is used by:
Thousands of dealers and business customers
Leading automotive marketplaces
Automotive professionals across Europe
Millions of smart used car buyers worldwide
Many dealers already use CARFAX and may provide a report as part of the buying process.
What does this mean for you?
You're not only accessing vehicle history information. You're using the same trusted standard relied upon by automotive professionals across Europe. And don't be shy to ask the seller for a CARFAX Report.
You can contact our Customer Support team at any time.
Real people review your request
Support is available when you need it
Every enquiry is assessed individually
If you're not satisfied with your purchase, CARFAX offers a 30-day money-back guarantee.
What does this mean for you?
You can purchase a CARFAX Vehicle History Report with confidence, knowing that support is available if you need assistance and that you're protected by our refund policy.