What is a Clean Carfax

Importance of a Clean CARFAX® & What It Means for Morganton Motorists

No vehicle history report is more detailed than a CARFAX® report. These reports provide Morganton drivers with peace of mind and a clearer picture of the car's history. When buying and selling cars, Morganton motorists want a clean CARFAX®. This ensures a smooth transaction.

A clean CARFAX® report means the vehicle has a clean car title and that no major issues have been reported with the vehicle. No outstanding liens are present. There has been no salvage, rebuild, or recall from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. No flooding or fires have occurred.

Here at Morganton Honda, we pride ourselves on providing pre-owned cars that have a clean CARFAX®. If you're buying a used vehicle in Morganton, NC, it's important to choose those with a clean CARFAX®.

What goes into a CarFax report?

Carfax reports can make or break a deal. A vehicle's VIN is able to bring up records from various databases, compiling available information about the history of the vehicle. Below is some of the information that you can find using Carfax:

• Any Damage To the Vehicle - A nice exterior on a used vehicle doesn't guarantee it hasn't sustained damage before. This could include anything from an accident to other damage the car has accrued since it was first manufactured. For example, if the airbags have ever been deployed you'll see a record of that. You wouldn't want to buy a vehicle that has been totaled in an accident.
• Odometer History - To verify accurate mileage, Carfax can gather information on the vehicle's odometer. If it's an older car with a manual odometer, although unlikely, there is a possibility that it could have been altered. This becomes a problem because you would think that a vehicle is less used than it actually is.
• Any Issues With Titling - A vehicle's title proves ownership, so if it is missing or there are issues with it, then walking away may be your best option. Don't ever buy from a private seller who can't prove that they own the vehicle.
• "Lemon Status" - When a dealer has recalled or repurchased a specific vehicle because of major issues, that model gains what's known as a "lemon status." It's best not to purchase a vehicle that's been recalled because of potential future problems it could have.
• Records of Previous Owners - It's always good to know how many people have owned a vehicle. With a used rental car, for example, you wouldn't have any idea who's been driving it, how much stress they put on the vehicle and how clean it's been kept. Fewer owners, especially owners who've kept up with maintenance, signals that the vehicle might be a better investment in the long run.
• Any Service or Maintenance Records - When a vehicle has been maintained on a regular basis, you should be given or be able to find a record of oil changes, tire rotations and routine checkups performed throughout the years. These records from Carfax can provide insight into any issues the vehicle might have encountered in the past and whether or not they've been addressed.
• Any Warranties Still Valid - Depending on the age of a used vehicle, Carfax will be able to tell you if any warranties are still valid. Since some maintenance might be covered under warranty, this could be an added bonus of buying a used vehicle.
• Model-Specific Safety Information - Carfax will likely also have crash-test information on the specific make and model of the vehicle. Included under this umbrella would be safety recalls and other relevant safety information. A potential buyer would want to know this about a vehicle for added peace of mind on the road.