This may be a huge mistake on my part. I bought a used 2003 D w/76000 miles on it. I ran a quick car fax (the first time i ever ran one) on my wifes

cell phone o the spot. It came back "clean". So I bought the D and later I was looking at home on the car fax (I know, to late) and it showed only one

owner from 2003 to 2006 ending with 46000 miles on it. It had a clean title ( no salvage). It's almost like it went of record for 6 years. I contacted car

fax but not much help there. Any ideas?? Thanks

 

Well thats the same with my D as well, some owners just don't update car fax, i know i probably won't.

 

Most of the time its a garaged/sitting vehicle otherwise i would say it was ran under a dealer plate where'as its not required to be inspected/registered and be put into the system.

 

So car fax info is based on voluntary information from the vehicles owners?

 

No, CarFax is based on DMV submitted information, dealers, insurance companies, repair stations and inspection stations. It all really depends on whether or not the place you took the vehicle communicates with CarFax. Most small shops don't, as far as I have seen around here. I don't think an owner can submit data, however.

If the owners never changed, and the vehicle never changed hands or was never updated (change of address, etc.) it won't show anything more than the last odometer reading at that time, which in your case is 46,000.

With that said, I don't trust CarFax 100%. I've had cars that have been wrecked, but never had the accident reported show a clean CarFax. It's helpful, but I rarely base my purchases on it, unless there is a GIANT red flag.

 

Me too

 

Yep it you get it fixed without the insurance knowing it never gets reported. I hit a deer around christmas it is now fixed but you will never see it on a carfax. I always do a thorough inspection myself and have a buddy who knows something along with you too.