Who actually reports to Carfax/Autocheck?

"CSX-55" (CSX-55)
09/04/2014 at 16:16 • Filed to: None

I just bought a G35. A girl in a crappy Buick with cutthroat insurance just backed into my G35. I just found unknowingly found myself in my first insurance claim ever (at least she had insurance?)

The damage isn't bad; minor cracking/paint damage to the bumper cover, and an obvious bent support, but nothing that can't be fixed relatively easily and cheaply. I guesstimated $400-500 at a minimum between paintelss dent repair and a damn good detail, which she couldn't afford out of pocket (unemployed, on food stamps, yadda yadda), so she called her insurance and dragged me into a claim. I spoke with the agent, and he was very down to earth and basically said to send him pictures and a body shop estimate and we'd go from there.

I mentioned in a recent post that I go through multiple vehicles a year, buying them, cleaning them up, and reselling them, usually for a small profit. All of the vehicles I buy are in reasonable shape with a clean ownership/accident history. However, if this goes to Carfax, it could make the vehicle potentially un-sellable (or at least result in a significant loss), as a Carfax hit is a Carfax hit, and people may immediately write the car off whether it was a parking lot fender bender or a frame-bending collision. I know I shy away from vehicles that have any kind of accident history on Carfax.

This leads me to my question. Does the fact that I'm involved in a claim mean that this will get reported to Carfax/Autocheck no matter what? Does the insurance company report these kinds of things, or does the body shop? Ideally, I'd just want the insurance company to cut me a check and let me get it fixed on my own, but I don't know how realistic that is.

Is there anything I can do to save the value of my vehicle, or has the claim that she started essentially sealed its fate as far as its Carfax cleanliness is concerned?

DISCUSSION (20)

HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles > CSX-55
09/04/2014 at 16:17

DMV, Insurance companies, Dealerships, and some of the bigger Auto Shops.

jkm7680 > CSX-55
09/04/2014 at 16:18

Whenever I've been bumped into, it hasn't actually gone on the Carfax except when I had $8,000 of damages to my former '08 A4.

CSX-55 > jkm7680
09/04/2014 at 16:19

How did you go about the repairs? Were they handled by an insurance company?

CSX-55 > HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles
09/04/2014 at 16:20

So do you think I can avoid the Carfax hit by sticking with a smaller body shop? Or since insurance is involved, are they going to just report it on their own? Or is it just highly variable and nobody knows for sure?

jkm7680 > CSX-55
09/04/2014 at 16:20

The repairs were covered by insurance.

It's not like my Carfax was super clean on that car, the engine was pulled and that's there now.

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > CSX-55
09/04/2014 at 16:22

insurance will report it.

That's why I was so pissed when my car was rear-ended. I wasn't hurt, the damage was minimal and easily fixed. But I knew my car value had just taken a bigger hit than my rear bumper.

jariten1781 > CSX-55
09/04/2014 at 16:24

Depends on the insurance company. The big guys don't typically report. When I've done claims through Geico, Progressive, and USAA they never reported. Body shops are the same way, the bigger they are the less likely it is that they report. I found one that didn't by asking around. The one I found here is run through a Lexus dealer and the manager told me that it wasn't worth pissing off his customers for the miserly payments that car-fax provided.

Nearly all police departments report. There's typically a threshold and the trooper has, in my experience, let me know each time whether it was reportable or not.

Brian, The Life of > CSX-55
09/04/2014 at 16:24

If a claim happens, Carfax nearly always finds out but only for certain severities. Light bumps like this get a pass, I believe.

UKGTR335 > CSX-55
09/04/2014 at 16:24

I've been hit three times in 2 different cars. First car was hit by a teenager in a parking lot (no police report, claim filed with his insurance, approx. $2,000 of damage) and then by a deer in South Carolina (no official police "report", filed a claim with my insurance, approx $5,000 damage). That car showed NOTHING re: accidents on the carfax when I traded it in. Second car was rearended at <5mph, minimal damage but rear bumper cover needed replacing (approx. $1,200 damage, claim filed with his insurance, AND a police report was filed). Carfax showed the accident and incorrectly stated my car had been towed. So, my understanding is if there is no police report, its not going on the Carfax. Insurance/body shop is not reporting this stuff.

CSX-55 > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner
09/04/2014 at 16:25

Damn. Not what I wanted to hear. I contemplated just telling her to forget it and I'd pay for it myself, and I'm starting to think that's exactly what I should've done. I have a feeling the car's value will take a bigger hit than $500.

Carl (@stuffcarlsays) > CSX-55
09/04/2014 at 16:25

After my Mini got sideswiped by the city plow last winter, the accident showed up on the carfax. However, no value was deducted because the car was repaired by a factory certified shop. Interestingly enough, though, the carfax deducted $70 from the resale value because the Mini dealer doesn't report maintenance to them.

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > CSX-55
09/04/2014 at 16:27

her deductible is most likely 500 or more then. It would be smarter for her to drop the claim and scrape together cash too, because her insurance will go up.

And you're right it sounds like it would hurt the value more than 500.

Maybe offer to split it with her?

Ducky > CSX-55
09/04/2014 at 16:27

get rid of it quickly. Carfax does not update right away, and is on a serious delay. Maybe take a small hit to avoid a larger hit because of the hit

CSX-55 > Carl (@stuffcarlsays)
09/04/2014 at 16:28

I think it's less about the actual monetary value loss as stated by Carfax and more the buyer's perception of buying a vehicle that has an accident history, regardless of how minor, that will cause me problems.

CSX-55 > Ducky
09/04/2014 at 16:30

You know, I thought about this, and I'm glad someone suggested it. It may appear to be a little underhanded, but it seems to make sense to spend $400 on paintless dent repair and dump the the car to avoid a $2000 loss in value, or worse, making it difficult (if not impossible) to sell because of the accident history. And it's not like I got T-boned and am trying to cover it up.

RazoE > CSX-55
09/04/2014 at 16:36

-Carfax is meant to find vehicle history, including accidents.

-Don't want to report accident because it'll show on Carfax

-Wut?

Sorry dude. I completely understand, but it's there for a reason..

(p.s., I've bought salvaged cars before, turned out great)

brzedr1 > CSX-55
09/04/2014 at 16:55

1. Get yourself a cash estimate at a shop (or two) that you trust.

2. Meet with insurance adjuster from her policy. Be nice. Hopefully they're cool and can cut the check directly to you (vs. you + your insurance, or you + body shop).

3. Get the repair done, tell them you're paying out-of-pocket, and ask if they report to CarFax. (In my experiences, most places won't - exception being if it's a total loss.)

4. Cash your check.

5. Pay the bill

6. Drive into the sunset.

Same thing happened to me a month ago. Now my ride is back to normal and I made a few bucks off of the whole experience. I haven't checked CarFax, but neither the shop nor the kid's insurance said they report minor/parking lot bumps. Don't involve your own if you don't have to.

Good luck. it's definitely a disappointing feeling until it's resolved. Stay strong!

ranwhenparked > CSX-55
09/04/2014 at 19:25

Insurance companies do, it's part of the reason they love Carfax so much. Since it came out, the amount of people willing to pay out of their own pockets rather than file claims has been on the increase.

donz.de > CSX-55
12/03/2017 at 07:55

Any reported accident will definitely show up on Carfax. My 2014 MINI was tapped in a parking lot, and only required a new door skin, but Carfax showed it as a side collision. I tried to trade-in the MINI for a new one at the dealer that made the repairs, and they wouldn’t even touch the car on trade-in. I had already bought 2 other MINIs , so I had a customer history with the dealer, but that wasn’t enough to overcome the stigma of a Carfax. For small repairs like you describe, it is 100% better to take the hit on the repair rather than report it. It makes economic sense to pay for it yourself rather than report it if the cost of the repair is under $3k. You will lose at least $3K on the value of the call from the report on Carfax.

BigCarDude > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner
05/06/2019 at 20:48

You can always go after the insurance company for the depreciation value of you car’s value after the repair.

Say your car is worth $1,200 less that a similar car that has not been a car accident. You should get your car repaired to 100%, and a check for $1,200. No insurance company will offer this to you, but will pay you if you ask.