CarFax Report Weird Entry

marcomatt

Hi there

I'm looking to buy a car that has a weird entry and hoped you could provide me with some guidance please.

The entry under comments reads:
Accident reported
Involving rear or side Impact
with another motor vehicle
Involving rear impact
Rear primarily damaged
Vehicle functional
Vehicle towed
Airbags did not deploy

The reason this is weird is that it was only a rear impact (no side involved) - she reversed into another car at v low speed. The second weird part is that it says the vehicle was towed, however it wasn't! She drove home after - only minor scratches on the fender.

Does this negatively impact the value of the vehicle? Is there any chance at all of getting CarFax to change this?!

kyfdx

marcomatt said:

Hi there

I'm looking to buy a car that has a weird entry and hoped you could provide me with some guidance please.

The entry under comments reads:
Accident reported
Involving rear or side Impact
with another motor vehicle
Involving rear impact
Rear primarily damaged
Vehicle functional
Vehicle towed
Airbags did not deploy

The reason this is weird is that it was only a rear impact (no side involved) - she reversed into another car at v low speed. The second weird part is that it says the vehicle was towed, however it wasn't! She drove home after - only minor scratches on the fender.

Does this negatively impact the value of the vehicle? Is there any chance at all of getting CarFax to change this?!

Who are you buying the car from? Do you have personal knowledge of the accident?

What year/make/model car?

One question that is easy to answer: No, you can't get Carfax to change it. Not unless you have unlimited time and resources.

marcomatt

It's a private sale.

I have no personal knowledge of the accident, but having looked at the car up close and underneath I'm confident in the seller's explanation of what happened.

The car is nothing special - 2013 car.

kyfdx

marcomatt said:

It's a private sale.

I have no personal knowledge of the accident, but having looked at the car up close and underneath I'm confident in the seller's explanation of what happened.

The car is nothing special - 2013 car.

Carfax entry is not likely to have a material effect on price, unless you plan on flipping the car in the next year. By the time you drive it for three years, it will be nine years old, and it will be of little issue.

Since you don't know for sure, I'd assume the Carfax is correct.

Mr_Shiftright

CARFAX isn't going to change it, and I, too, would assume that Carfax has more credibility, since the seller is a biased party in the sale who potentially benefits from their own version.

I also agree that within the next few years, the Carfax report will be of little consequence to value, since it wasn't a total, and airbags didn't deploy. Many cars 7-10 years old have had fender-benders.

marcomatt

kyfdx said:

Since you don't know for sure, I'd assume the Carfax is correct.

I normally would - that's why I've taken a further look into this issue underneath. I've had a close look at the bumper mounts, and everything behind it. It just doesn't look like it's had much of a bump on the rear. It's not that I'm believing him over the CarFax, I'm believing what I see over the CarFax (knowing CarFax can be wrong at times).

marcomatt

Believe it or not, but the seller has just e-mailed to say that CarFax have reviewed the police report of the incident and adjusted the report accordingly.

kyfdx

marcomatt said:

Believe it or not, but the seller has just e-mailed to say that CarFax have reviewed the police report of the incident and adjusted the report accordingly.

That would be an incredible occurrence.

marcomatt

kyfdx said:

marcomatt said:

Believe it or not, but the seller has just e-mailed to say that CarFax have reviewed the police report of the incident and adjusted the report accordingly.

That would be an incredible occurrence.

If I buy the car, I'll post the details (with personal info redacted of course).

kyfdx

marcomatt said:

kyfdx said:

marcomatt said:

Believe it or not, but the seller has just e-mailed to say that CarFax have reviewed the police report of the incident and adjusted the report accordingly.

That would be an incredible occurrence.

If I buy the car, I'll post the details (with personal info redacted of course).

Cool! Let us know.

Mr_Shiftright

marcomatt said:

Believe it or not, but the seller has just e-mailed to say that CarFax have reviewed the police report of the incident and adjusted the report accordingly.

I'd believe that when you see the amended Carfax report. If you have the VIN we'll check for you.

marcomatt

Mr_Shiftright said:

marcomatt said:

Believe it or not, but the seller has just e-mailed to say that CarFax have reviewed the police report of the incident and adjusted the report accordingly.

I'd believe that when you see the amended Carfax report. If you have the VIN we'll check for you.

I have checked the CarFax report already.

isellhondas

I've never been a big fan of Car Fax. They often totally miss some pretty severe accidents and a minor key scratch can show us as an ACCIDENT REPORTED! Even if this was more than a minor mishap any quality body shop can do a great job of making the car like new again.

Like the others have said, the older the car gets the less concerned a new buyer will care about even checking a Car Fax. I have seen Car Faxes scare people away from some great cars because of some of the wording they use.


That could be a reason I'm not a huge fan of them. Still, they do have their place!

marcomatt

Ok - bought the car.

The original car fax summary said:
Detail said:

The revised car fax summary said:
Detail said:

This was the e-mail from the CarFax people:

And yes, it was updated on the CarFax checked by me independently!

kyfdx

marcomatt said:

Ok - bought the car.

The original car fax summary said:
Detail said:

The revised car fax summary said:
Detail said:

This was the e-mail from the CarFax people:

And yes, it was updated on the CarFax checked by me independently!

That's cool. and, amazing.