What Autocheck Reports Show and Don't Show
An Autocheck report pulls together records from auctions, insurance companies, DMV databases, and service records to build a history of a specific vehicle. It shows title problems, accident damage claims, odometer readings over time, service records from participating shops, and whether the car has been declared a total loss. What it does not show is every accident—only those reported to insurance or documented at auction—and it cannot tell you the current mechanical condition of the car or whether hidden damage exists.
Autocheck is owned by Experian and competes directly with Carfax. Both services pull from similar sources, but their databases are not identical, so a report from one may flag something the other misses. Neither service has access to every repair shop, every insurance claim, or every accident report filed in every state. A car that was repaired at an independent shop and never reported to insurance will not appear damaged in either report, even if the damage was significant.
The report arrives as a single document with a score (ranging from 1 to 100, with higher being better) and a detailed timeline. The score is meant to summarize risk, but it is a starting point, not a verdict. A car with a lower score may still be mechanically sound; a car with a high score may have minor issues that were properly repaired.
Key Takeaways
- Autocheck reports show title issues, insurance claims, total loss declarations, and service records, but only for events that were reported to participating databases.
- The report cannot reveal accidents that were paid for in cash, repairs done at independent shops, or the current mechanical condition of the vehicle.
- Autocheck and Carfax pull from different sources, so running both reports on the same car may uncover different information.
- A numerical score is included but should not be your only factor—have a trusted mechanic inspect the car in person before you buy.
- You can order an Autocheck report directly from Autocheck.com or through many used car dealer websites and listing platforms.
How to Order an Autocheck Report
You need the vehicle identification number (VIN) to order a report. The VIN is a 17-character code stamped on the driver's side dashboard and listed on the title, registration, and insurance documents. You can find it on any used car listing that includes detailed information.
Go to Autocheck.com and enter the VIN in the search box. A single report costs money (the price varies but is typically under $30), though some used car websites and dealerships offer free Autocheck reports as part of their listing. If you are shopping on a platform like CarGurus, Edmunds, or a dealer's own site, check whether the report is already included before you pay separately.
The report generates when ready after purchase and is available to read as a PDF. You can also request a report by phone through Autocheck's customer service line, though the online method is faster and you receive the document right away.
What Title Problems Look Like in an Autocheck Report
Title issues are among the most serious findings in a vehicle history report because they affect your legal ownership and ability to resell the car. Autocheck flags vehicles with salvage titles (issued after the car was declared a total loss by an insurance company), rebuilt titles (issued after a salvage vehicle was repaired and passed inspection), lemon law buybacks (cars returned to the manufacturer under state lemon laws), and flood titles (vehicles damaged by flooding).
A salvage or rebuilt title does not automatically mean the car is unsafe or a bad purchase—many rebuilt vehicles are repaired properly and run reliably for years. However, rebuilt cars are harder to insure, more difficult to resell, and may have hidden damage that was not caught during inspection. If Autocheck shows a rebuilt title, ask the seller for documentation of the repair work, get a pre-purchase inspection from a mechanic who specializes in that make, and confirm your insurance company will cover it before you commit.
A lemon law buyback means the manufacturer took the car back because of repeated defects under warranty. These vehicles are typically resold at auction and may have unresolved mechanical issues. A flood title indicates water damage, which can lead to electrical problems, rust, and mold that may not show up for months or years.
Reading Accident and Damage Claims
When Autocheck shows an accident or damage claim, the report includes the date, the source of the information (insurance company, auction house, or service record), and sometimes the type of damage reported. It does not always include the severity—a minor fender-bender and a major collision may both appear as a single line item.
If the report shows one accident claim from five years ago and the car has been driven normally since, that is different from a car with three claims in two years. Look at the pattern: is the damage clustered in time, or spread out? Has the car been in multiple accidents, or just one? The timeline matters because it tells you whether the car was involved in a single incident or has a history of problems.
One important limitation: if an accident was minor and the owner paid out of pocket rather than filing an insurance claim, it will not appear in Autocheck. The report shows only reported damage, not all damage. This is why a pre-purchase inspection by a mechanic is essential—they can spot signs of past repair work (paint overspray, mismatched panels, welding marks) that the report does not capture.
Odometer Readings and Service Records
Autocheck tracks odometer readings recorded at auctions, service visits, and title transfers. If the mileage goes backward between two readings, the report flags it as a potential odometer rollback. For example, if the car showed 80,000 miles at a service visit in 2021 and 75,000 miles at an auction in 2023, that is a red flag for fraud.
Service records in the Autocheck database come from participating repair shops and dealerships. If a car was serviced at a Ford dealership, that service appears in the report. If it was serviced at an independent shop or a different brand's dealership, it may not. A gap in service records does not mean the car was not maintained—it may straightforward mean the owner used a shop that does not report to Autocheck.
Use the mileage timeline to estimate how hard the car was driven. A car with 150,000 miles accumulated over 10 years was driven roughly 15,000 miles per year, which is close to the national average. A car with 150,000 miles in 5 years was driven harder and may have more wear on the engine and transmission.
Comparing Autocheck to Carfax and Other Reports
Carfax is the largest vehicle history service and has access to more insurance company records than Autocheck in some regions. However, Autocheck has stronger connections to auction houses and may flag salvage or rebuilt titles faster. Neither service is complete—both rely on voluntary reporting from insurers, dealers, and repair shops.
Some dealerships and platforms offer reports from both services, or you can order them separately. If you are considering a car with any red flags—accidents, title issues, or high mileage—running both reports is worth the cost. A problem that appears in one report but not the other is still a problem and should be investigated further.
Other sources of information include the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) database for recalls, state DMV records (which you can request directly), and a pre-purchase inspection from a certified mechanic. No single report tells the whole story; Autocheck is one piece of the picture.
When to Use Autocheck and What It Cannot Tell You
Order an Autocheck report before you make an offer on any used car, especially if you are buying from a private seller or an unfamiliar dealer. The report costs less than a tank of gas and can save you from buying a car with hidden problems. If you are buying from a dealer who already provides a report, review it carefully—do not assume it is complete just because it came from the seller.
Autocheck cannot tell you whether the engine will start tomorrow, whether the transmission will fail next month, or whether the car has been in an unreported accident. It cannot assess the condition of the brakes, tires, suspension, or interior. It cannot predict repair costs or how long the car will last. For all of those questions, you need a hands-on inspection by a mechanic who can test-drive the car, put it on a lift, and check the systems that matter.
Think of Autocheck as a screening tool, not a may provide. A clean report is reassuring but not a promise that the car is problem-free. A report with red flags is a reason to dig deeper, ask questions, and get a professional inspection before you buy.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I get a free Autocheck report?
Some used car websites and dealerships include a free Autocheck report with their listings. If you are shopping on a dealer's site or a major listing platform, check the vehicle details to see if one is already provided. Otherwise, you will need to purchase a report directly from Autocheck.com.
What does the Autocheck score mean?
The score ranges from 1 to 100, with higher scores indicating fewer reported issues. A score of 80 or above is generally considered good, but the number is only a summary. A car with a score of 70 may still be reliable if the issues are minor and properly repaired, while a car with a score of 85 may have a serious hidden problem that was not reported.
If Autocheck shows an accident, does that mean the car is unsafe?
Not necessarily. Many cars are in minor accidents, repaired properly, and run reliably for years. What matters is the severity of the damage, the quality of the repair, and whether there are signs of ongoing problems. A mechanic's inspection can tell you whether the repair was done well and whether any damage remains.
Why does Autocheck show different information than Carfax?
The two services pull from different databases. Autocheck may have stronger records from auctions, while Carfax may have more insurance company data in your region. Neither service has access to every accident, repair, or claim. If one report shows a problem and the other does not, investigate further rather than assuming one is wrong.
Should I buy a car with a rebuilt title if the Autocheck report looks clean otherwise?
A rebuilt title means the car was once declared a total loss and then repaired. Even if the report shows no further problems, get a pre-purchase inspection from a mechanic who has experience with rebuilt vehicles. Ask the seller for documentation of the repair work, and confirm your insurance company will cover the car before you buy.