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Email from dealer: Carfax for life?

8.2K views 10 replies 8 participants last post by  AstroKats  
#1 ·
So today I got this email from the dealer where I bought my car:

298646


I did some poking around, and it seems like it's legit. Dealers report service visits to Carfax, and customers can use it as a maintenance record. Carfax sells it to the dealer as a way to increase service department visits.

So it's not a scam, but I'm still not sure I want it. I don't intend to go back to that dealer for anything, and I don't want to encourage them to spam me. OTOH the maintenance record should be valid no matter what dealer does the service.

Anyone else here get this offer and take them up on it? Do you find it useful?
 
#2 ·
Seems to me that it would make your car more valuable if you sold it with a Carfax showing every single service done by the dealer. I only went to my dealer once for service on my 2018, the oil change is remarkably easy for me to do, so my Carfax would appear that I haven't taken it to a dealer leaving it to me to convince a potential buyer that I have correctly maintained the car. 6 of one and half dozen of the other. I keep the receipts for the oil/filter and other parts so that would have to be enough if I sell the vehicle used. If you plan to use the dealer for your maintenance I would think a free Carfax would be a good thing. If you aren't planning to stay with the dealer I don't think it would matter much if you keep maintenance records. When I help my kids/grand-kids to look for used cars I like seeing a Carfax but they rarely show all maintenance and you just have to look at overall condition of the car to see if it has been maintained or just cleaned up for the sale. I'd say read the small print, if it is truly free why not have it?
 
#5 ·
Keeping my personal data private is worth far more to me than any "benefit" that might come from that. I note that the Privacy Policy includes "CARFAX may disclose personal information about you . . . to provide you with a better user experience . . . ." Because there is no limitation on what might be deemed a "better user experience" there really is no meaningful limit on what CARFAX might do with your personal information.
My understanding is that they report the data to Carfax whether or not you accept the offer. It looks like the benefit to you is just that you have free access to it.

That data is already out there if you're servicing at the dealer. I once applied for auto insurance and the agent told me I didn't have to tell them how much I drive, they know already from the dealer service records.
 
#3 ·
Keeping my personal data private is worth far more to me than any "benefit" that might come from that. I note that the Privacy Policy includes "CARFAX may disclose personal information about you . . . to provide you with a better user experience . . . ." Because there is no limitation on what might be deemed a "better user experience" there really is no meaningful limit on what CARFAX might do with your personal information.
 
#7 ·
Anyone else here get this offer and take them up on it? Do you find it useful?
The problem with CarFax a lot of people don't realize is it only contains what is officially on record. Unless otherwise legislated by the Province/State/County/ETC the report is only going to show service(s) reported done on the car -officially-. So, long story short - that means service/work not done by a dealer or Insurance "approved" provider, in the case of Insurance work, are almost guaranteed to not show-up on the CarFax Report.
You can pretty much rest assured any privately/family run Mechanic's Shop is not going to be filing the work in this way (again, unless otherwise legislated).

I was given a CarFax report when I bought my car. It showed some oil changes and service. It was nice to have - at least I know the car was serviced at all... but it certainly did not contain everything that had been done. Not for a car 3 years old at the time of my purchase!
 
#9 ·
When I bought my first Crosstrek last year, the dealer purchased my 2007 Honda. Soon thereafter, I received a notice from CarFax that my Honda's service record was available for review. The report - which had information dating back to 2007 -- appeared to be very complete, although it was missing some pretty important information. In 2007, my wife hit a pothole that set off the airbag and damaged the car's frame. It was repaired by the Honda dealer and the car performed very well in subsequent years, but the repair was not noted in the CarFax report. I am not sure how that was missed, but every other minor service at the dealership was recorded. I had new tires installed at Pep Boys two years ago and the visit was recorded, but no indication that new tires were installed. So I guess you have to take these reports with a grain of salt. If you are buying a new car, there's no substitute for having a trusted mechanic give it a good look over.