| Auto Auction - Auto auctions provide Carfax with odometer readings
of vehicles brought to the auction for sale (and whether or not it sold).
It is common practice for vehicles to be wholesaled at auctions. |
| Damage Disclosure Title- The title issued when the seller indicates
that the vehicle has sustained damage as a result of one or more incidents.
The amount of damage varies by state. |
| Date Reported - Refers to the date when the transaction occurred. |
| Emissions Inspections - Many states or counties require annual
or biennial emissions inspections. Odometer readings are collected at the
time of the inspection. |
| Exempt Vehicle - The vehicle is over 10 years old, was manufactured
before 1986, and is exempt from odometer reporting requirements. |
| Flood Damage Title - States issue flood titles when a vehicle
has been in a flood or has received extensive water damage. |
| General Comments - Carfax reports display important information
in the General Comment section, including potential problems for each transaction.
Comments will vary, depending on the source of the information. |
| Information Source - Refers to the provider or origin of the
transaction. There are several sources you may see on a report including
Motor Vehicle Department, Auto Auctions, Salvage Auctions, and Emissions
Inspection Stations. |
| Lemon Law - Most states have a lemon law to protect consumers
from having to keep a car that has recurring problems. If someone buys
a new car with major problems, and the manufacturer fails to repair the
defect in a certain amount of time, the manufacturer may be required to
refund the consumer's money by buying the vehicle back. |
| Lien - A lien is an ownership right to a piece of property.
When a financial institution loans money to someone purchasing a vehicle,
the financial institution has a lien on the vehicle. Other types of liens
include mechanics' liens and child support liens. |
| Manufacturer Buyback (LEMON) Title- The title issued when a
vehicle with major problems has been repurchased by a manufacturer. State
laws vary as to the requirements for a "buyback." |
| Motor Vehicle Dept. - Motor Vehicle Departments issue both titles
and registrations to a vehicle's owner. Each title or registration record
which appears on a Carfax report does not necessarily indicate a change
in ownership. New titles and registrations can be created for name, address
and lienholder changes; ownership changes; vehicle status changes; registration
activity; title corrections; and lost titles. |
| Odometer Rollback - If a more recent odometer reading is less
than an older reading, then the odometer may have been "rolled back". |
| Odometer Rollover (Exceeds Mechanical Limits) - When the seller
certifies, under the Truth in Mileage Act, that the odometer reading EXCEEDS
MECHANICAL LIMITS of the odometer, usually 99,999 miles. |
| Rebuilt/Reconstructed Title - The vehicle sustained damage and
was rebuilt or reconstructed, then placed back on the road. |
| Repossession - When a repossession occurs a vehicle owner fails
to make loan payments, and the financial institution holding the title
takes possession of the vehicle. |
| Salvage Auction Record - Vehicles that are sold at salvage auctions.
These vehicles have been declared a total loss by an insurance company,
are recovered stolen vehicles, or have been repossessed. |
| Salvage/Junk Title - States issue salvage titles when an insurance
company takes possession of a vehicle as a result of a claim. This generally
occurs after a vehicle has been declared a total loss. States issue junk
titles to indicate that a vehicle is not road worthy and cannot be titled
again in that state. |
| Title Issued - A state issues a title to provide a vehicle owner
with proof of ownership. Each title has a unique number. Each title or
registration record which appears on a Carfax report does not necessarily
indicate a change in ownership. |
| Total Loss - An insurance company declares a vehicle a total
loss when paying a claim for the full value of the vehicle. Insurance companies
typically take possession and obtain the title of such vehicles. |
| Unreliable Odometer (Not Actual Mileage) - When the seller certifies,
under the Truth in Mileage Act, that the odometer reading is NOT ACTUAL
MILEAGE. This may occur because the disclosed odometer reading was not
accurate and verifiable. |
| Vehicle ID No. - This 17 character number is unique to each
vehicle. It identifies characteristics of the vehicle, including manufacturer,
year, model, body, engine specifications, and serial number. |
