Larry f.

When I attempted to trade in my 2005 Toyota 4Runner for a 2013 model, the dealer pulled the Carfax report. That showed the vehicle was scrap and not driveable. Though I had been in an accident, it was not major and repairs nowhere near the 4Runner's value. The airbags didn't even deploy. I wanted to take advantage of a deal and didn't have time to search around and it was the weekend, so carfax could not be reached. I accepted scrap value for the trade in. When I was able to reach Carfax, they said the vehicle must have been totaled due to the nature of the accident. The repair shop denied reporting anything to Carfax. After exchange of info about the repair with Carfax, they reluctantly agreed to reverse the scrap value assessment. They told me that the scrap assessment was theirs based on the data they received. The resolution took a few weeks, though. Carfax is not a consumer's friend. It cost me many thousands of dollars towards the trade in because they inserted their unqualified opinion. Think about it - Carfax looks best when damage reported are inflated. My guess is that the Carfax input was through the police accident report.