Carfax vs AutoCheck: Which Report Is Actually Better?

February 1, 2026 • 8 min read • Comparisons

The two biggest names in vehicle history reports. Carfax charges $44.99. AutoCheck charges $29.99. Carfax vs Autocheck. Both claim to tell you everything you need to know before buying a used car.

But which one is actually better? And is there a third option that beats them both?

This Carfax vs AutoCheck comparison breaks down every difference, reveals which wins each category, and shows you the data neither service provides.

Head-to-Head Carfax vs Autocheck Comparison

Category-by-Category Winner

Carfax Strengths

Carfax's advantages are about distribution, not data:

Dealer Distribution

Carfax dominates because dealers pay up to $25/report to provide "free" Carfax to buyers. It's a sales tool — dealers are locked into contracts requiring reports on all inventory. When a dealer hands you a Carfax, you're seeing a report designed to help them sell the car.

Buyback Guarantee

Carfax offers to buy back vehicles if major issues weren't disclosed in their report. It's a safety net — though the fine print limits what qualifies. Still, it's something neither AutoCheck nor VinPassed offers.

Brand Recognition

"I'll get you a Carfax" has become synonymous with vehicle history checks. Dealers provide them, buyers expect them. This recognition has value, even if the data isn't always more complete. For a deeper dive, see our analysis on whether Carfax is worth it.

AutoCheck Strengths

AutoCheck has its own advantages:

AutoCheck Score

AutoCheck's proprietary scoring system (0-100) lets you quickly compare vehicles. A car scoring 85 vs one scoring 62 gives you instant relative quality assessment. Carfax doesn't offer anything similar.

Price

At $29.99, AutoCheck costs $15 less than Carfax for similar core data. For budget-conscious buyers running multiple reports, this adds up.

Experian Data

AutoCheck is backed by Experian, the credit bureau giant. They have strong data infrastructure and access to sources Carfax may not.

What Both Are Missing

Here's the problem: Carfax and AutoCheck share the same fundamental limitation. Neither provides:

• Auction photos — Visual evidence of damage before repairs
• Dealer cost — What the dealer actually paid
• Repair estimates — How much damage actually cost to fix
• Listing history — How long it's been for sale, price drops

This matters because:

• Auction photos catch damage that never gets reported to Carfax or AutoCheck
• Dealer cost data is your strongest negotiating tool
• Listing history reveals motivated sellers you can negotiate harder with

A vehicle can show "clean" on both Carfax and AutoCheck while auction photos reveal significant damage that was repaired and never reported. This happens more often than you'd think — learn how dealers hide accident history.

The Real Difference: Who’s the Customer?

Carfax's customer is the dealer. Dealers pay $20-25 per report, locked into contracts to buy reports on every vehicle. Carfax is designed to help dealers sell cars. That's why it excludes auction photos, dealer costs, and repair estimates — this data would hurt sales.

VinPassed's customer is you. We show what dealers don't want you to see: what they paid, what the car looked like before reconditioning, and how long they've been trying to sell it. This is data that helps buyers, not sellers.

When you understand who each service is built for, the missing data makes perfect sense.

When to Use Each

Use Carfax When:

• The dealer provides it for free (always take free data)
• You want the buyback guarantee peace of mind
• You understand it's a dealer sales tool, not buyer protection

Use AutoCheck When:

• You want to quickly compare multiple vehicles with the AutoCheck Score
• Budget matters and you don't need the buyback guarantee

Use VinPassed When:

• You want the most complete data (including auction photos)
• You plan to negotiate and need dealer cost data
• You want the best value at $25
• You want to see the car's condition before any reconditioning

After You Buy: Protect Your Investment

Vehicle history reports tell you what happened before purchase. But mechanical problems can develop at any time, regardless of history.

VIP Warranty provides exclusionary coverage for vehicles up to 250,000 miles — protecting virtually all mechanical components with no mileage cap once enrolled. It's the protection that complements your thorough pre-purchase research.

The Bottom Line

Carfax vs AutoCheck? Carfax wins on brand recognition and the buyback guarantee. AutoCheck wins on price and the comparison score. Service records are a tie — all major providers access the same databases.

But VinPassed beats both by including data neither offers (auction photos, dealer costs, listing history) at the lowest price ($25). See our complete ranking of the best vehicle history reports for the full breakdown.

For the most informed used car purchase, VinPassed provides the best combination of complete data and value. Take free Carfax when offered, but don't pay $45 for data you can get elsewhere — plus more — for $25.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Carfax more accurate than AutoCheck?

Both pull from reliable sources (NMVTIS, insurance databases, DMV records). Accuracy is similar for core data. Neither is definitively "more accurate" — they access the same federal databases for title and service records. The real difference is what data they choose to show you.

Can a car have a clean Carfax but dirty AutoCheck?

Yes, though it's uncommon. Each service has different data partners. One might report an accident the other missed. Running both (or running VinPassed which includes auction data neither has) provides the most complete picture.

Is AutoCheck owned by Carfax?

No. AutoCheck is owned by Experian (the credit bureau). Carfax is owned by IHS Markit (now S&P Global). They're direct competitors with different data sources.

Why doesn’t Carfax show auction photos?

Because Carfax's customer is the dealer, not you. Dealers pay up to $25/report to provide "free" Carfax as a sales tool. Would showing auction photos of pre-repair damage help dealers sell cars? No — so Carfax doesn't include them. VinPassed is built for buyers, which is why we show everything.

Should I run both Carfax and AutoCheck?

If budget allows and you want maximum coverage, running multiple reports can catch discrepancies. But for most buyers, a single comprehensive report (VinPassed at $25) provides better value than paying for multiple incomplete reports. You can also run a free NICB VINCheck to verify theft and total loss status, and use free VIN check tools for initial screening.