Check out this video from Jay about why you should look beyond the CARFAX when buying a used car. Click Here

A CARFAX is an important tool when you're shopping for a used vehicle. But at Back Roads Automotive, we don't believe it should be the only thing you look at.

Here's a great example.

A Reported Accident Doesn't Always Mean a Bad Vehicle

We recently had a Chevy Blazer that a customer decided not to purchase because the CARFAX showed a minor accident.

When we looked closely at the vehicle, we found something important: the repair had been done properly.

The body lines around the bumper, hood, headlights, and fog lights were tight and even. Everything lined up the way it should.

The accident was reported, the customer knew about it, and the repairs were properly completed.

Now Look at the Other Side of the Story

We also recently purchased a Honda Fit that was listed as a one-owner, no-accident vehicle.

But when our team inspected it closely, we noticed problems that weren't immediately obvious.

The bumper was loose and poorly aligned. The front emblem was missing, and an aftermarket grille was being held on with zip ties.

That made us look deeper.

Our team found evidence of a significant front-end accident, including parts underneath the vehicle that needed to be replaced.

So which vehicle would you rather buy?

The one with a reported minor accident that was properly repaired, or the one advertised as having no accidents that showed evidence of a much more serious repair?

Don't Let One Line on a CARFAX Make the Decision for You

A CARFAX can provide valuable information about a vehicle's history, but it doesn't tell you everything about the vehicle's current condition or the quality of previous repairs.

At Back Roads Automotive, we believe customers deserve to know what they're buying. That's why we inspect our vehicles carefully and encourage you to look at the vehicle, ask questions, take a test drive, and have it inspected if you choose.

Don't automatically walk away from a vehicle just because the CARFAX shows a properly reported accident. And don't assume a “no accident” CARFAX means the vehicle has never been in an accident.

Look at the whole picture.

That's how you make a more informed used-car purchase.

We hope this example helps you with your next vehicle purchase.