AutoCheck gives you a report on a car's past based on its VIN, showing accidents, title problems, and service records

AutoCheck is one of two major vehicle history services (the other is Carfax). When you enter a VIN, AutoCheck searches insurance claims, police reports, auction records, and repair shop databases to build a timeline of what has happened to that car. The report shows accidents and damage claims, whether the title has been branded (marked as salvage, flood, or lemon), odometer readings from service records, and whether the car has been in a rental or fleet.

The report costs money — typically $25 to $30 per report, though prices vary by where you buy it. Some dealerships and used car sites include an AutoCheck report with the listing, so you may not need to pay separately. The report arrives as a PDF you can read when ready or save.

AutoCheck is useful because it catches things a visual inspection misses: a car that was in an accident but repaired well enough to look fine, or one with a salvage title that a seller might not mention. It is not a may provide that a car is safe or reliable — it only shows what has been reported to the databases AutoCheck searches. A car with a clean AutoCheck report could still have hidden mechanical problems, and a car with reported damage might be perfectly safe if it was repaired properly.

Key Takeaways

  • AutoCheck searches insurance claims, police reports, and repair records to show accidents, damage claims, and title problems tied to a specific VIN.
  • The report costs $25 to $30 per vehicle, though some dealerships and listing sites include it free with the ad.
  • A clean AutoCheck report does not mean the car has no mechanical problems — it only shows reported accidents and title issues.
  • AutoCheck and Carfax pull from different databases, so a car might appear in one report but not the other; checking both gives you more information.
  • The report is most useful when combined with a pre-purchase inspection by a mechanic, which catches problems AutoCheck cannot see.

What information appears in an AutoCheck report

An AutoCheck report is organized by date, showing events in the order they happened. At the top is a summary score (ranging from 1 to 100, with higher being better), which AutoCheck calculates based on the number and severity of reported events. Below that are the specific records: insurance loss history, title information, odometer readings, and auction or dealer records.

The insurance section shows whether the car was in a collision, comprehensive claim (theft, weather, vandalism), or other insured event. It lists the date, the type of loss, and sometimes the amount paid out. The title section flags whether the title has been branded — marked as salvage, rebuilt, flood, lemon, or other problem status. Odometer readings come from service records and auctions, showing mileage at different points in time; a big jump or a drop backward is a red flag. The auction and dealer section shows whether the car has been through a used car auction or sold at a dealership, which can indicate it was a trade-in or a fleet vehicle.

One important limit: AutoCheck only shows what has been reported to its partner databases. A car in a minor accident that was paid for in cash by the owner, not through insurance, will not appear. A car that was in an accident but never reported to police will not show up either. This is why a clean report does not mean the car has never been damaged.

How AutoCheck differs from Carfax

Carfax and AutoCheck are the two largest vehicle history services, but they pull from different sources and sometimes reach different conclusions about the same car. Carfax gets data from state DMVs, insurance companies, and repair shops; AutoCheck pulls from insurance companies, police reports, auctions, and dealer networks. Because their sources overlap but are not identical, one service might show a reported accident that the other does not.

In practice, this means a car could have a clean Carfax report but show damage on AutoCheck, or vice versa. Neither is wrong — they are just seeing different pieces of the puzzle. For this reason, if you are considering buying a used car, checking both reports gives you a more complete picture than checking only one. Some dealerships provide both reports; if not, you can buy them separately.

AutoCheck reports tend to include more auction and dealer records, which is useful if you want to know whether a car has been through multiple owners quickly or spent time in a rental fleet. Carfax reports tend to have more detailed repair records from certain shop networks. Neither service is definitively "better" — they are complementary.

When an AutoCheck report shows an accident or damage claim

If the report lists an accident or insurance claim, the next step is to understand what happened and whether it matters for your decision. A minor fender-bender that was repaired properly is very different from a major collision that bent the frame. The AutoCheck report tells you that a claim was filed, but it usually does not tell you the severity or quality of the repair.

This is where a pre-purchase inspection by a trusted mechanic becomes essential. A mechanic can look at the car in person, check whether repairs were done well, and spot signs of poor workmanship or hidden damage. They can also run a diagnostic scan to see whether the car's computer shows any history of major repairs or ongoing problems. If the AutoCheck report shows an accident but a mechanic finds no evidence of poor repair, that is a good sign. If a mechanic finds signs of shoddy repair work, that is a reason to walk away or negotiate a lower price.

You should also ask the seller directly about any reported accidents or claims. A seller who is honest about the damage and can show you repair receipts is more trustworthy than one who denies it or claims not to know. Some damage is disclosed in the title itself (a salvage or rebuilt title), which you can see on the AutoCheck report and verify by checking the state DMV records.

What a branded title means and why it matters

A branded title is a permanent mark on the car's ownership documents indicating that the car has experienced a major problem. The most common brands are salvage (the car was declared a total loss by an insurance company), rebuilt (the car was salvaged but repaired and passed inspection to be driven again), and flood (the car was damaged by water). Other brands vary by state and include lemon (failed to meet warranty standards), structural damage, and fire damage.

A branded title will appear clearly on the AutoCheck report and will also show up when you check the state DMV records. A car with a salvage or rebuilt title is legal to drive and own, but it is worth significantly less than an identical car with a clean title, and it may be harder to insure or finance. Some insurance companies charge more or refuse to insure rebuilt-title vehicles. Some lenders will not finance them, or will only finance them at a higher interest rate.

If you are considering a car with a branded title, you need to understand what the brand means in your state (rules vary), whether your insurance company will cover it, and whether you can get financing if you need it. A rebuilt title is not automatically a deal-breaker — a well-repaired car with a rebuilt title can be reliable — but it requires more caution and more thorough inspection than a clean-title car.

How to use AutoCheck alongside other research

An AutoCheck report is one piece of information, not the whole picture. A complete used car evaluation includes the AutoCheck report, a Carfax report, a pre-purchase inspection by a mechanic, a test drive, and a conversation with the seller about the car's history and any problems they know of.

Start by running both AutoCheck and Carfax on any car you are seriously considering. If both reports are clean, that is a good sign but not a may provide. If either report shows accidents, damage claims, or a branded title, dig deeper: ask the seller, get a mechanic's inspection, and decide whether the risk is worth the price. If the seller refuses to let you get an inspection or is evasive about the car's history, that is a reason to look elsewhere.

The AutoCheck report is most valuable when it confirms what you already suspect (the car looks like it was in an accident) or reveals something you would not have known otherwise (the car was in a flood, or has been through five owners in two years). Use it to ask better questions and to know what to look for during a mechanic's inspection.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I get an AutoCheck report for free?

AutoCheck reports are not free, but some dealerships and used car listing sites include one with the vehicle ad at no extra cost to you. If you are buying from a private seller or a dealership that does not provide the report, you will need to pay $25 to $30 per report. Some services offer discounts if you buy multiple reports at once.

What if the AutoCheck report shows an accident but the car looks fine?

A reported accident does not mean the car is unsafe or unreliable. Many accidents result in minor damage that is repaired properly and never causes problems again. The best next step is to get a pre-purchase inspection from a mechanic, who can tell you whether the repair was done well and whether there are any hidden issues. Ask the seller for repair receipts if they have them.

Is a car with a rebuilt title safe to buy?

A rebuilt title means the car was declared a total loss by insurance but was repaired and passed inspection to be driven again. It is legal to own and drive, but it is worth less and may be harder to insure or finance. Whether it is safe depends on the quality of the repair, which only a mechanic can assess. A well-repaired car with a rebuilt title can be reliable, but it requires more caution than a clean-title car.

Should I check both AutoCheck and Carfax?

Yes, if you can. The two services pull from different databases, so one might show information the other does not. Checking both gives you a more complete picture of the car's history. Many dealerships provide both reports; if not, the cost of buying both is worth the extra information when you are making a major purchase.

What does the AutoCheck score mean?

AutoCheck assigns each car a score from 1 to 100 based on the number and type of reported events in its history. A higher score means fewer or less severe reported problems. The score is a quick summary, but it should not be your only factor in deciding whether to buy. A car with a lower score might still be reliable if the reported damage was minor and well-repaired.