A Carfax or CarProof vehicle history report is your best protection before buying a used car. Here is how to really decode a CARFAX or CarProof report, and what it does not tell you.
1. What the report contains
- Ownership history: how many owners, and what types (private, lease, fleet).
- Province of origin: red flag if the car comes from a province with heavy road salt use (Ontario, Quebec) or from a flood area (east coast).
- Insurance claims: reported accidents, damage value, type of repair.
- Odometer history: to detect fraud (rolled-back odometer).
- Inspections and maintenance: only those reported, not all of them.
- Bank liens: whether the vehicle is pledged as security.
2. Red flags to watch for
🚩 More than 3 owners in 5 years
Why do people get rid of it so fast? Ask for explanations.
🚩 Rental or fleet vehicle
Often more kilometres with less personalized maintenance. Not a deal breaker, but inspect it rigorously.
🚩 Claim > $5,000
Possible structural rebuild (bent frame, airbags replaced). Ask for the repair details.
🚩 “Title brand”: Salvage / Rebuilt
A vehicle declared a total loss and then rebuilt. Very risky: collapsed resale value, more expensive insurance, uncertain safety.
🚩 Several different provinces
Possible attempts to hide an unfavourable history by changing the province of registration.
3. What the report does NOT tell you
- Every accident: only those reported to the insurer. An accident paid for directly (without a claim) does not show up.
- Quality of repairs: a shop may have done a quick patch job.
- Regular maintenance that was not reported: oil changes done by a friend who is a mechanic, for example.
- Current condition of the vehicle: the report is a history, not an inspection.
4. CARFAX vs CarProof
Both are reliable. CarProof (now CARFAX Canada) has more Canadian data. CARFAX US has more American data (useful if the vehicle comes from the USA).
Cost: $25-$45 per report. A good investment before a purchase.
5. What to do if you find a red flag
- Ask the seller for explanations.
- Require an independent pre-purchase mechanical inspection (~$150).
- Negotiate the price down based on the risks.
- Walk away and move on to another vehicle if necessary.
At BonAuto
All our vehicles have their history checked before going on sale. Contact us to request the CarProof report for a vehicle in our inventory. No rebuilt vehicles in our stock.