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Carfax vs AutoCheck vs EpicVIN: which history report should you buy?

By Don't Buy Blind · Updated October 30, 2026 · Sources listed below

Short answer: they overlap more than their prices suggest. All three report US title brands, total losses and odometer readings. Carfax (about $45) is strongest on service records and police-reported accidents. AutoCheck (about $30) is strongest on auction records and gives a comparison score. EpicVIN is an approved NMVTIS provider with auction photos and past listings, and it shows a free summary before you pay. A sensible approach is to screen every car cheaply, then spend more only on the one you're serious about.

Disclosure: we earn a commission if you buy an EpicVIN report through our links. We've tried to make this comparison fair, including where EpicVIN falls short.

Price comparison (October 2026)

CarfaxAutoCheckEpicVIN
One report$44.99$29.99Shown at checkout after the free check
Bundles3 for $64.99, 6 for $99.99Multi-report packs16 for $86.34 ($5.40 each), or unlimited at $49.99/month
Free preview firstNoNoYes, a free records summary
Owned byCARFAX (S&P Global)ExperianEpicVIN Inc., Florida

Carfax and AutoCheck prices are the checkout prices recorded by CarWhere in September 2026, because neither company lists them on its marketing pages. EpicVIN's packages are listed on its price page. All three change prices without notice, so confirm at checkout.

Watch the trial. EpicVIN offers a $1 three-day trial of unlimited reports. If you don't cancel, it renews at $49.99 a month. That's good value if you're checking a lot of cars this week, but set a reminder to cancel.

Where the data comes from

Every US report starts with the same public foundation: the federal National Motor Vehicle Title Information System (NMVTIS). States, insurers, junk yards and salvage yards are required by law to report to it. NMVTIS covers five things: the current title and state, title brands (salvage, flood, junk and so on), odometer readings, total losses and salvage history. It doesn't include repair or maintenance records.

What separates the reports is the private data each company adds on top:

  • Carfax draws on a large network of service shops, dealers and police departments. That's why it usually shows oil changes, repair visits and police-reported accidents that other reports miss.
  • AutoCheck uses Experian's database and is especially strong on auction sales, which matters because many problem cars pass through auctions. Its AutoCheck Score compares the car with similar vehicles.
  • EpicVIN combines NMVTIS data with auction records, insurer damage records and past online listings with their asking prices. Auction photos are its standout feature, because you can sometimes see the damage before it was repaired.

Check the VIN on the car you're looking at

See where it was built and its model year, then check its title history for salvage, flood, odometer and theft records.

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Model year
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Opens EpicVIN in a new tab. You see a free summary before paying anything. Best for vehicles with US history. Paid link: we earn a commission if you buy a report, at no extra cost to you.

No VIN yet? Ask the seller to text it to you before you drive out. A bad history saves you the trip.
Open in Messages

What each one is best at

You want to know…Best bet
Was it ever branded salvage, flood or junk in any state?Any of the three. All use NMVTIS title data.
Was it in an accident that wasn't an insurance write-off?Carfax, though no report catches every accident
Was it serviced regularly?Carfax
Was it sold at auction, and what did it look like then?EpicVIN (photos) or AutoCheck (auction records)
Has the asking price been dropping on other listings?EpicVIN (past listings and prices)
Canadian history, liens in CanadaCARFAX Canada, a separate product from US Carfax

The limitations nobody advertises

  • No report is complete. Accidents that were paid in cash, or never reported to police or insurers, appear nowhere. EpicVIN's own documentation says a missing record means no source reported it, not that it didn't happen. The same is true of every provider.
  • Canada is a separate system. US reports cover US titles. For a car that has only ever been registered in Canada, you need CARFAX Canada (its report with a lien check covers Canadian liens). For a car that came up from the US, you want both.
  • A clean report doesn't replace an inspection. It tells you what was recorded, not what condition the car is in today.

A cheaper way to check several cars

  1. Screen everything for free first. Use NICB's free VINCheck for theft and insurance total-loss records, and run the VIN through a free summary to see whether there are records worth paying for.
  2. Buy a low-cost report on your shortlist. If you're comparing several cars, a package or short subscription costs less than one Carfax.
  3. Get the premium report on the finalist if service history matters to you, or ask the dealer for one. Many dealers provide Carfax free.
  4. Then get a pre-purchase inspection.

Questions

Is Carfax worth the extra money?

It can be for the car you're about to buy, mainly for service records and police-reported accidents. For screening several cars, it's an expensive first step.

Do Carfax, AutoCheck and EpicVIN use the same data?

They share the NMVTIS title data, then add different private sources. That's why the reports for one car can differ.

Which report is best for a car in Canada?

CARFAX Canada for Canadian history and liens. If the car spent time in the US, add a US title history too.

Sources

General information, not legal advice. Rules change, so check the official source before you rely on a detail.

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