Carfax vs AutoCheck: what's the difference?
Both turn a VIN into a history of accidents, title brands, owners and mileage. They're built by different companies from different records, so the same car can look different on each. Here's how they compare and when to use which.
By the Carfax Vin Check team · Updated
The difference in one paragraph
Carfax, owned by S&P Global, is the report most car buyers know by name, and it's strongest on service records reported by repair shops. AutoCheck, owned by the credit bureau Experian, is cheaper at retail, is heavily used in wholesale auctions and sums a car up with a single score. Both pull title brands from state DMVs and accident records from police and insurers, but neither gets every record.
Side by side
| Carfax | AutoCheck | |
|---|---|---|
| Run by | CARFAX, Inc., part of S&P Global Mobility | Experian |
| Price, one report | $44.99 at Carfax.com ($7.99 here) | $29.99 at AutoCheck.com |
| More than one | Multi-report packages at Carfax.com; packs here | Five for $59.99, used within 21 days |
| Known for | Service and maintenance records | Auction records and the AutoCheck Score |
| Score | No overall score; the history is itemized | A single score compared with similar vehicles |
| Search by | VIN (here), or VIN and plate at Carfax.com | VIN or US license plate |
Retail prices as listed in September 2026.
Where Carfax is stronger
Service history. Carfax collects maintenance records from a large network of shops and dealers, so its reports often show oil changes, tire rotations and repairs, owner by owner. For a private sale, where there's no dealer paperwork, that record of how the car was looked after is often the most useful part of the report.
Detail on each event. Accident entries often say where the car was hit, whether airbags deployed and whether it was towed. Our sample report shows this for six separate events.
Where AutoCheck is stronger
Auctions. AutoCheck says its data covers the vast majority of US auto auctions, including announcements of frame and structural damage made in the lane. If a car has been through the wholesale market, AutoCheck may know things a retail-focused report doesn't.
The score. AutoCheck boils the history down to a number and a range for similar cars of the same age and class. It's a quick way to compare two cars, as long as you still read what's behind it.
Price at retail. $29.99 against $44.99 for one report, if you buy direct.
Which one to run
- Private sale: Carfax, for the service history. If the price is high or anything looks off, run AutoCheck as well.
- Dealer car: ask for the dealer's report first. Many will give you Carfax for free, then decide whether a second opinion is worth it.
- Auction or ex-fleet car: AutoCheck is worth having, since that's where its data is deepest.
- Any car you're about to buy: neither report replaces a pre-purchase inspection. A report shows what was reported; a mechanic shows what's there.
We sell Carfax reports only: $7.99 for one, or $3.50 each in the 20-pack.
Questions
Neither wins outright. Carfax tends to have more service history, which matters most on a private sale. AutoCheck leans on auction data and adds a score. On a car you're serious about, running both is the thorough option.
Each company collects its own records from its own sources, and none of them gets everything. An accident reported to one data partner may never reach the other company.
Both. Many retail dealers show Carfax reports to buyers, and AutoCheck is widely used at wholesale auctions. Plenty of dealers subscribe to both.