1.1 These Terms and Conditions govern the use of the online shop for entrepreneurs maintained by CARFAX at https://www.carfax.eu (or any successor URL) (the “B2B Shop”) and the services offered through it. They apply to all business relationships between CARFAX Europe GmbH (“CARFAX”) and customers that are entrepreneurs within the meaning of Sec. 14 of the German Civil Code (Bürgerliches Gesetzbuch – BGB), legal entities under public law or special funds under public law (each a “Customer”). An entrepreneur is a natural or legal person or a partnership with legal personality acting, when entering into a legal transaction, in the exercise of its trade, business or profession. The B2B Shop is intended exclusively for such Customers; consumers within the meaning of Sec. 13 BGB may not register for or use the B2B Shop.
1.2 Only these Terms and Conditions apply. Any terms and conditions of the Customer that conflict with, deviate from or supplement these Terms and Conditions do not apply unless CARFAX expressly agrees to their applicability in text form. By registering an account or placing an order using the B2B Shop, the Customer accepts these Terms and Conditions.
1.3 Use of the B2B Shop requires the creation of an account at the URL specified in clause 1.1 and the provision of the mandatory information requested there. Orders via the B2B Shop are only possible after CARFAX has verified, in accordance with clause 1.4, that the Customer meets the eligibility requirements set out in clause 1.1.
1.4 CARFAX verifies entrepreneur status by validating VAT identification numbers of EU‑registered customers via the European Commission’s VIES (VAT Information Exchange System). Where such validation is not possible or the Customer is not registered in the EU, or the Customer is a legal entity under public law or a special fund under public law, CARFAX may require other suitable documentary evidence to verify the Customer’s eligibility under clause 1.1. Verification is typically completed within seconds where VIES validation is successful and generally within one business day where a manual review is required; the outcome is communicated in the B2B Shop or by email. CARFAX may refuse registration if eligibility under clause 1.1 cannot be substantiated or if information provided is incomplete or inaccurate.
1.5 During registration, the Customer sets a personal user name and password. The Customer must keep these access credentials confidential and must not disclose them to third parties, including persons outside its organisation or persons within its organisation who are not authorised to act on its behalf. The Customer shall promptly notify CARFAX if unauthorised use or disclosure of access credentials is suspected and shall ensure that users within its organisation comply with these Terms and Conditions.
1.6 After an account has been created, CARFAX may temporarily suspend the account if there are indications that the requirements for registration are no longer met, if it becomes apparent that the Customer has provided inaccurate information, if misuse or security risks are suspected or where suspension is necessary to comply with legal requirements.
1.7 Creating or maintaining an account at the URL specified in clause 1.1 does not of itself entitle the Customer to have orders accepted or services provided; contracts for individual services are formed only in accordance with the provisions below.
1.8 CARFAX may terminate the account relationship with effect for the future for any or no reason by giving three (3) months’ notice in text form, without prejudice to the ability to suspend the account temporarily pursuant to clause 1.6 or to terminate for cause with immediate effect in accordance with the statutory provisions.
1.9 The Customer may delete its account at any time via the “My account” section of the B2B Shop. If the Customer’s contact or billing information changes, the Customer is responsible for updating it without undue delay; updates can be made online in “My account” after login.
2.1 The presentation of services on the B2B Shop does not constitute a binding offer by CARFAX but an invitation to the Customer to submit offers. The Customer can submit offers either for one or more vehicle history reports (VHR), as further described in clause 3, or for a purchase of credits that can be redeemed for the purchase of VHRs via the B2B Shop.
2.2 By clicking the final confirmation button (for example, “Order with obligation to pay”) after completing the order and payment steps shown in the B2B Shop, the Customer submits a binding offer to conclude a contract for the selected item (VHR or credits).
2.3 VHRs are offered only for vehicles for which a VHR can be generated from CARFAX’s processed database at the time of order. If the VIN or registration number entered by the Customer is invalid or cannot be matched, or if, in CARFAX’s assessment, available data for the specific vehicle is insufficient for the generation of a VHR, the B2B Shop will not permit submission of the Customer’s order.
2.4 The contract is concluded when CARFAX accepts the Customer’s order. Acceptance occurs, for a VHR purchase, by redirecting the Customer to a confirmation page in the B2B Shop following checkout and providing immediate access to the purchased VHR, or, for a purchase of credits, by redirecting the Customer to a confirmation page in the B2B Shop following checkout and crediting the purchased credits to the Customer’s account. CARFAX may alternatively accept the order by separate declaration (for example, by email) or by performing the contract within a reasonable time.
2.5 Immediately after conclusion of the contract, CARFAX sends the Customer an email summarising the purchase (order confirmation). In a separate email, CARFAX provides these Terms and Conditions in text form (for example, as a PDF) and, where a VHR has been purchased, an access link to that VHR; in the case of a purchase of credits, the Customer’s credit balance is visible in the Customer’s account and may be confirmed by email. The current version of these Terms and Conditions can be accessed at any time in the B2B Shop.
2.6 The Customer’s selected means of payment is charged only upon CARFAX’s acceptance pursuant to clause 2.4; where no acceptance occurs, any pre‑authorisation is released.
2.7 Credits are units recorded in the Customer’s account that can be redeemed via the B2B Shop for the purchase of VHRs as described in clause 3. When the Customer redeems credits, CARFAX provides the corresponding VHR in accordance with clause 3 and deducts the required number of credits from the Customer’s balance. Credits are account‑specific and non‑transferable; they may only be redeemed by the Customer via its own account. Credits are redeemed on a first-to-expire basis; where the Customer holds credits with different expiry dates, CARFAX will deduct credits with the earliest expiry date first.
2.8 Credits are valid for four years from the date they are added to the Customer’s account and expire automatically thereafter. Expired credits cannot be redeemed. Credits cannot be redeemed for cash and are non‑refundable, except as expressly provided in these Terms and Conditions.
2.9 CARFAX remains free to accept or reject orders at its discretion. Details of the scope of services provided under contracts for VHRs are set out in clause 3.
2.10 If CARFAX terminates the Customer’s account pursuant to clause 1.8, the Customer may continue to redeem any unused credits until the termination becomes effective. Upon termination taking effect, CARFAX refunds any unused credits remaining in the Customer’s account within fourteen (14) days to the original payment instrument or, if that is not possible, to a bank account notified by the Customer.
2.11 If the Customer deletes its account (cf. clause 1.9), any unused credits remaining in the account expire immediately upon deletion and cannot be redeemed or refunded, notwithstanding the validity period in clause 2.8. Before confirming deletion, CARFAX will clearly inform the Customer of this consequence and request explicit confirmation.
3.1 When the Customer purchases a vehicle history report, CARFAX provides its service by making available a digital report (“VHR”) for a specifically identified vehicle (via VIN or registration number). The VHR is available to the Customer for retrieval for a period of 30 days from the date of purchase (subject to clause 3.7); the Customer may also save the VHR in PDF format. The VHR contains technical information and information on historical events relating to the vehicle and is automatically regenerated from the processed database maintained by CARFAX each time it is retrieved. The VHR reflects the data available at the time of retrieval. A VHR retrieved at a later point within the 30-day period may therefore differ from a previously retrieved VHR, particularly where new data has been added in the interim or where entries have been corrected or modified based on new data.
3.2 The VHR consolidates the standardised event data available to CARFAX for the vehicle at the time of retrieval. Depending on the data available, the following information may be included in the VHR: indications of accidents or damage, odometer readings, servicing and inspection records, changes of ownership or registered keeper, import and export records, theft reports and any manufacturer recalls. Information may be presented as chronological entries, categories, severity levels or approximate values; detailed information may not always be available.
3.3 CARFAX obtains data from public and private institutions in various countries, including vehicle registration authorities, law enforcement agencies, government ministries, inspection companies and other businesses in the automotive value chain. CARFAX processes this raw data, harmonising, aggregating and classifying it and checking it for plausibility. For comparability, information is standardised and, where appropriate, consolidated (for example, damage classifications such as “minor”); where estimates or calculations are used (for instance, regarding the extent of damage), these are approximate values. This methodology may result in some imprecision.
3.4 The scope of the information contained in the VHR depends on the vehicle in question and on the data available to CARFAX. CARFAX does not have data for all vehicles. Where data is available for a vehicle, this does not mean that data is available for all events in that vehicle’s history. Not all countries and reporting systems are covered. There may be delays between CARFAX receiving new information and its availability in the VHR. The VHR may contain events that subsequently prove to be inaccurate, or may not include actual events that have occurred.
3.5 The service comprises solely the provision of the VHR based on the processed information available in CARFAX’s database at the time of retrieval. CARFAX is not obliged to provide access to raw data or to include all data held by CARFAX in the VHR. CARFAX is not obliged to notify or inform the Customer after retrieval of a VHR that the data situation regarding the relevant vehicle has changed or that new data has become available, regardless of whether this occurs within or outside the 30-day period referred to in clause 3.1.
3.6 The VHR is an information product to assist with purchase and sale decisions. It does not replace the Customer’s own inspection of the vehicle, a test drive or an expert appraisal and does not contain any statement regarding the current technical condition or any particular quality of the vehicle. The VHR is also not intended to be used as conclusive evidence of facts in judicial, administrative, arbitration or other dispute resolution proceedings, and it may not be suitable for such use. Admissibility and evidentiary weight are determined exclusively by the competent court, authority or tribunal under applicable procedural law.
3.7 Access to the VHR within the 30-day period stated in clause 3.1 may be temporarily unavailable, particularly due to maintenance work or technical disruptions. CARFAX will endeavour to keep such interruptions to a minimum and to provide advance notice where possible. Further, the 30‑day access period applies only while the Customer’s account is active. If (a) the account is suspended pursuant to clause 1.6, (b) the account relationship is terminated pursuant to clause 1.8, or (c) the account is deleted pursuant to clause 1.9, access to VHRs via the account ceases upon the effectiveness of the suspension, termination or deletion, and any remaining portion of the 30‑day access period will no longer be available.
4.1 Prices for VHRs and credits are as shown in the B2B Shop at the time the Customer places the order and are, unless expressly stated otherwise, net of statutory value‑added tax (VAT). Any VAT will be charged in accordance with applicable law.
4.2 CARFAX may adjust prices for future orders at any time; the price displayed at the time of the Customer’s order applies to that order. Price changes do not affect contracts already concluded.
4.3 The Customer’s selected means of payment is charged only upon CARFAX’s acceptance of the Customer’s order in accordance with clause 2.4. Accepted payment methods include credit cards (e.g., Visa, MasterCard), mobile payment services (e.g., PayPal, Google Pay) and country‑specific payment methods as displayed in the B2B Shop. CARFAX may change the available payment methods at any time.
4.4 CARFAX issues electronic invoices in a structured electronic format compliant with EN 16931 and makes them available to the Customer electronically (for example, by email or via an access link in the B2B Shop). CARFAX may use third‑party invoicing service providers to issue and deliver such invoices. The Customer consents to the receipt of EN 16931-compliant invoices; paper invoices or PDF invoices will not be provided.
4.5 Invoices will state VAT in accordance with the German VAT Act (Umsatzsteuergesetz – UStG) and applicable EU rules. Where the reverse‑charge mechanism applies, VAT will not be charged and the invoice will indicate reverse charge. The Customer shall provide a valid VAT identification number and complete billing details and keep them up to date; if validation fails or details are incomplete, CARFAX may charge VAT as required by law.
5.1 Upon purchase of a VHR, the Customer receives a non-exclusive, non-transferable, non-sublicensable and limited licence to use the respective VHR in accordance with these Terms and Conditions as set out below. As between CARFAX and the Customer, CARFAX remains the sole owner of all intellectual property and database rights, trade secrets and other proprietary rights in and to the VHRs, the B2B Shop and its content, the underlying software, algorithms, methodologies and tools, as well as all CARFAX trademarks and logos (together “CARFAX Property”).
5.2 Only the rights of use expressly described in this clause 5 are granted; no further rights are granted.
5.3 Upon purchase of a VHR, CARFAX grants the Customer the right to (a) access the respective VHR online during the access period specified in clause 3 and (b) download and store an unaltered PDF copy thereof. Use is permitted solely for the following purposes: acquisition or sale of used vehicles, vehicle financing, support of insurance and inspection processes, evaluation and appraisal of vehicles, remarketing, import and registration of vehicles, and cooperation with competent authorities, courts and law-enforcement agencies where required or permitted by applicable law. The Customer may use the VHR solely for carrying out and documenting the specific activity falling within one of the purposes set out above; any further use is prohibited. Systematic archiving for the purpose of building up the Customer’s own data stocks or databases is not permitted. Use by the Customer’s employees and by agents/service providers engaged by the Customer (in particular experts and IT service providers) is permitted to the extent that they act on behalf of the Customer for the stated permitted purposes and the Customer has contractually bound them in advance to the restrictions set out in this clause 5. The licence includes the right to disclose the VHR as set out in clause 5.4.
5.4 The Customer may disclose the VHR solely for the permitted purposes stated in clause 5.3 to potential transaction counterparties (in particular buyers, sellers, finance providers, insurers, inspection companies and external experts/service providers acting on behalf of the Customer) and to competent authorities, courts and law-enforcement agencies – either via an online access link provided by CARFAX or as an unaltered PDF copy. Such disclosure is permitted solely to enable those recipients to use the VHR for the permitted purposes stated in clause 5.3 in relation to the specific vehicle. The recipients thereby receive no rights of their own in the respective VHR or any CARFAX Property. The Customer is obliged to take appropriate organisational and technical measures to ensure purpose-bound use by the recipients, in particular that recipients do not reproduce the respective VHR, do not redistribute it and do not create derivative works from the VHR.
5.5 When disclosing or using a VHR, the Customer shall: (a) provide the VHR in full and unaltered; (b) not edit, modify, translate, extract or create derivative works from the VHR or the information contained therein; (c) retain copyright and ownership notices; (d) not use CARFAX’s logos or trademarks without CARFAX’s prior written consent; and (e) identify CARFAX as the source of the VHR, subject to mandatory statutory rights of recipients. The Customer shall not make announcements or statements that misrepresent CARFAX, imply endorsement by CARFAX or are inconsistent with the content of a VHR.
5.6 The Customer may not resell, rent, or otherwise make available VHRs or the information contained therein to third parties as a standalone product and separate from a specific vehicle transaction. Copying, redistribution or publication of VHRs is not permitted, except with CARFAX’s prior written consent or as permitted under mandatory copyright law.
5.7 The Customer shall further not: (a) use automated tools (e.g., web crawlers, scraping software, bots) or manual processes aimed at mass or systematic collection/extraction of information from VHRs and/or the B2B Shop or at creating the Customer’s own databases from their content, unless mandatory law permits the action in the individual case; this does not affect the processing of individual items of information from a purchased VHR for one of the permitted purposes stated in clause 5.3; (b) perform mass or systematic downloads or create the Customer’s own databases from the content of purchased VHRs; (c) bypass, disable or otherwise interfere with security, usage or access controls or other technical protective measures implemented by CARFAX; or (d) decompile, disassemble or otherwise reverse engineer any software, code, file formats, data structures or technical components used to provide the B2B Shop or to generate or deliver VHRs, unless expressly permitted by law.
5.8 The Customer shall further not (a) claim any rights in CARFAX Property; (b) file, register or apply to register any intellectual property rights (including trademarks, domains, designs, copyrights or database rights) that are identical or confusingly similar to CARFAX Property; or (c) remove or alter copyright or ownership notices on VHRs or within the B2B Shop. All goodwill arising from the use of CARFAX’s trademarks accrues to CARFAX.
5.9 If the Customer uses VHRs or the B2B Shop in breach of this clause 5, CARFAX may temporarily suspend access to the B2B Shop and, in the event of serious or repeated breaches, terminate the Customer’s account for cause, without prejudice to CARFAX’s rights to claim damages or pursue other remedies.
5.10 If the Customer culpably breaches any obligations under this clause 5, CARFAX may demand a reasonable contractual penalty from the Customer. The amount of the contractual penalty shall be determined by CARFAX at its reasonable discretion (Sec. 315 BGB) and, in the event of dispute, reviewed by the competent court for reasonableness. In determining the amount, CARFAX will take into account the nature and gravity of the infringement, the degree of fault, the duration and scope of the infringement (including the number of VHRs affected) and any recurrence. Payment of a contractual penalty does not exclude further claims for damages; any contractual penalty paid shall be credited against a claim for damages. Other rights and remedies remain unaffected.
6.1 CARFAX is liable for intent and gross negligence.
6.2 CARFAX is also liable for damage arising from a negligent breach of essential contractual obligations – i.e., duties that are indispensable for the proper performance of the contract, whose breach jeopardises the achievement of the contract’s purpose, and on whose observance the Customer may regularly rely. In this case, CARFAX’s liability is limited to the foreseeable loss typical for this type of contract.
7.1 These Terms and Conditions and any contracts concluded under them do not create rights in favour of, or obligations owed to, any third party. No third party is included in the protective scope of this contract within the meaning of German law, unless CARFAX has expressly agreed to such inclusion in text form in an individual case.
7.2 Any disclosure of VHRs permitted under clause 5.4 (for example, to prospective buyers or sellers, finance providers, insurers, inspection companies or competent authorities) does not create a contractual relationship between CARFAX and such recipients and does not confer any third‑party beneficiary rights; such recipients may not assert contractual claims against CARFAX based on these Terms and Conditions or the VHR.
8.1 CARFAX may amend these Terms and Conditions at any time. The amended Terms and Conditions will be published in the B2B Shop with their effective date.
8.2 Orders for individual VHRs and credits that are placed after the effective date of amended Terms and Conditions shall be subject exclusively to the amended version. For previously concluded contracts regarding VHRs and credits – including the redemption, use and expiry of credits acquired under such contracts – the version of the Terms and Conditions that was current at the time of conclusion of the respective contract shall remain applicable.
8.3 The user relationship regarding the customer account in the B2B Shop shall remain unaffected by amendments to these Terms and Conditions pursuant to clause 8.1 and shall continue to be subject to the version of the Terms and Conditions that was valid at the time of establishment of the customer account, unless the Customer expressly consents to an amendment.
9.1 These Terms and Conditions and any contracts concluded under them are governed by the laws of the Federal Republic of Germany, excluding conflict‑of‑laws rules and the United Nations Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods (CISG).
9.2 The courts of Munich, Germany, shall have exclusive jurisdiction for all disputes arising out of or in connection with these Terms and Conditions and any contracts concluded under them; provided, however, that CARFAX may also bring proceedings at the Customer’s general place of jurisdiction. Statutory provisions on exclusive places of jurisdiction remain unaffected.
Munich, July 8th 2026