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Revision as of 21:51, 16 October 2022 editKnowledgeispow333r (talk | contribs)25 edits Updated summary and made corrections. For example, original summary started with "CARFAX, Inc. is a web-based service", but that's not accurate. CARFAX, Inc is a COMPANY that PROVIDES a web-based service.Tag: Visual edit← Previous edit Revision as of 22:34, 16 October 2022 edit undoKnowledgeispow333r (talk | contribs)25 edits Created a Legal Dispute section and moved the class action to a subheader, following the style of other company articles and notability guidelines for main article headers. Also cleaned up the History section, removing unsourced statements.Tags: references removed Visual editNext edit →
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{{Short description|Commercial web-based service that supplies vehicle history reports}} {{Short description|American company providing vehicle data to consumers and businesses}}
{{distinguish|CarMax}} {{distinguish|CarMax}}
{{Advert|date=July 2019}} {{Advert|date=July 2019}}
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==History== ==History==
In 1984, Carfax was founded in ], by Ewin Barnett III and Robert Daniel Clark.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.consumeraffairs.com/automotive/carfax_inacc.html|title=Top 661 Reviews and Complaints about Carfax|website=www.consumeraffairs.com}}</ref> The company is now headquartered in Centreville, Virginia, with a data center operation in Columbia, Missouri. Barnett was initially trying to combat ]. By working closely with the ] Automobile Dealers Association, in 1986 he offered the early version Carfax vehicle history report to the dealer market. These reports were developed with a ] of 10,000 records and were distributed via ]. In December 1996, the company's website was launched to offer consumers the same vehicle history reports already available to businesses. In the fall of 1999, Carfax became a wholly owned ] of ].<ref> {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081227054147/http://www.tcautos.com/carfax.html |date=December 27, 2008 }}</ref> In 2013, ] acquired Polk and Carfax, which added to its Automotive offerings.<ref name="IHS Markit 2019">{{cite web | title=Polk Automotive Has Been Acquired | website=] | date=2019-10-29 | url=https://ihsmarkit.com/btp/polk.html | access-date=2021-04-18}}</ref> In 2013, Carfax introduced a free service to help vehicle owners keep their cars well maintained which was dubbed "myCARFAX". Using this service, car owners can track their service history, receive automatic service alerts and receive information about open recalls reported for their car.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Carfax Unveils New Car Care Mobile App – Jun 20, 2013 |url=http://news.carfax.com/2013-06-20-Carfax-Unveils-New-Car-Care-Mobile-App |website=news.carfax.com |accessdate=2015-09-02 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20151004161432/http://news.carfax.com/2013-06-20-Carfax-Unveils-New-Car-Care-Mobile-App |archivedate=2015-10-04 }}</ref> In March 2016, ] had a ] of equals with ], and in July of that year became ].<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2016/03/21/ihs-and-markit-to-merge-in-deal-valued-at-more-than-13b.html |title=IHS to buy data provider Markit |last=CNBC |date=2016-03-21 |website=CNBC |access-date=2017-04-19}}</ref> On February 28, 2022 ] purchased IHS Markit and CARFAX became a brand in the company's newly formed S&P Global Mobility business unit.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2020-11-30 |title=S&P Global to buy IHS Markit in $44bn deal |work=Financial Times |url=https://www.ft.com/content/fb040ea4-868d-4491-8c13-8169b97255d5 |access-date=2022-09-22}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Hoffman |first=Cara Lombardo And Liz |date=2020-11-30 |title=S&P Global Agrees to Buy IHS Markit for About $44 Billion |language=en-US |work=Wall Street Journal |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/s-p-global-in-advanced-talks-to-buy-ihs-markit-for-about-44-billion-11606697244 |access-date=2022-09-22 |issn=0099-9660}}</ref> CARFAX was founded in ] in 1984 by Ewin Barnett III and Robert Daniel Clark. In 1986, by working closely with the ] Automobile Dealers Association, the company offered an early version of the CARFAX vehicle history report to the dealer market. These reports were developed with a ] of 10,000 records and distributed via ]. In December 1996, the company launched its website as part of an effort to sell its reports directly to consumers.
CARFAX has undergone several ownership changes since its founding. In the fall of 1999, Carfax became a wholly owned ] of ].<ref> {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081227054147/http://www.tcautos.com/carfax.html |date=December 27, 2008 }}</ref> In 2013, ] acquired Polk and CARFAX.<ref name="IHS Markit 2019">{{cite web | title=Polk Automotive Has Been Acquired | website=] | date=2019-10-29 | url=https://ihsmarkit.com/btp/polk.html | access-date=2021-04-18}}</ref> In March 2016, ] had a ] of equals with ], becoming ].<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2016/03/21/ihs-and-markit-to-merge-in-deal-valued-at-more-than-13b.html |title=IHS to buy data provider Markit |last=CNBC |date=2016-03-21 |website=CNBC |access-date=2017-04-19}}</ref> On February 28, 2022, ] purchased IHS Markit, and CARFAX became a brand in the company's newly formed S&P Global Mobility business unit.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2020-11-30 |title=S&P Global to buy IHS Markit in $44bn deal |work=Financial Times |url=https://www.ft.com/content/fb040ea4-868d-4491-8c13-8169b97255d5 |access-date=2022-09-22}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Hoffman |first=Cara Lombardo And Liz |date=2020-11-30 |title=S&P Global Agrees to Buy IHS Markit for About $44 Billion |language=en-US |work=Wall Street Journal |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/s-p-global-in-advanced-talks-to-buy-ihs-markit-for-about-44-billion-11606697244 |access-date=2022-09-22 |issn=0099-9660}}</ref>


== Products and services == == Products and services ==
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Although CARFAX continuously expands its database and resources, some information is not allowed to be provided. Under the 1994 U.S. '']'', personal information such as names, telephone numbers and addresses of current or previous owners are neither collected nor reported.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.accessreports.com/statutes/DPPA1.htm|title=Drivers Privacy Protection Act|website=www.accessreports.com}}</ref> CARFAX does not have access to every facility and mistakes are sometimes made by those who input data. In the event information is disputed but cannot be verified, CARFAX allows consumers and dealerships to add information to its reports.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://abc7news.com/|title=ABC7 News - KGO Bay Area and San Francisco News|website=ABC7 San Francisco}}</ref> Although CARFAX continuously expands its database and resources, some information is not allowed to be provided. Under the 1994 U.S. '']'', personal information such as names, telephone numbers and addresses of current or previous owners are neither collected nor reported.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.accessreports.com/statutes/DPPA1.htm|title=Drivers Privacy Protection Act|website=www.accessreports.com}}</ref> CARFAX does not have access to every facility and mistakes are sometimes made by those who input data. In the event information is disputed but cannot be verified, CARFAX allows consumers and dealerships to add information to its reports.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://abc7news.com/|title=ABC7 News - KGO Bay Area and San Francisco News|website=ABC7 San Francisco}}</ref>


==Legal disputes==
==2006 class action lawsuit==

=== West v. CARFAX ===
In 2006 class action lawsuit, the plaintiff claimed that CARFAX violated consumer protection laws by not disclosing the limitations of their service, specifically their inability to check accident records in 23 states in the U.S. while stating that their database contains information from all 50 states.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.citizen.org/our-work/litigation/cases/west-v-carfax-inc-and-polk-carfax-inc|title=West v. Carfax, Inc. and Polk Carfax, Inc. - Public Citizen|website=www.citizen.org}}</ref> The lawsuit was settled in May 2007 in the Trumbull County Common Pleas Court in ].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/05/06/automobiles/06CARF.html|title=It's the Truth, but Not the Whole Truth|first=Christopher|last=Jensen|date=6 May 2007|publisher=|via=NYTimes.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.boston.com/cars/news/articles/2007/04/15/deal_in_carfax_lawsuit_draws_fire/|title=Deal in Carfax lawsuit draws fire - The Boston Globe|website=www.boston.com}}</ref> The company asserts that it has major accident information from all 50 states and it backs up its claim with a buyback guarantee. The settlement in the West v. CARFAX, Inc lawsuit was overturned, not on the merits of the issue, but on the terms of the settlement which did not offer enough to the affected consumers and because "not enough consumers were notified and the judge should not have agreed to the settlement without knowing more about what it would cost CARFAX."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://wheels.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/12/31/heavily-criticized-carfax-settlement-ruling-is-overturned/|title=Carfax Settlement Is Overturned|first=Christopher|last=Jensen|date=31 December 2009|publisher=}}</ref> In 2006 class action lawsuit, the plaintiff claimed that CARFAX violated consumer protection laws by not disclosing the limitations of their service, specifically their inability to check accident records in 23 states in the U.S. while stating that their database contains information from all 50 states.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.citizen.org/our-work/litigation/cases/west-v-carfax-inc-and-polk-carfax-inc|title=West v. Carfax, Inc. and Polk Carfax, Inc. - Public Citizen|website=www.citizen.org}}</ref> The lawsuit was settled in May 2007 in the Trumbull County Common Pleas Court in ].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/05/06/automobiles/06CARF.html|title=It's the Truth, but Not the Whole Truth|first=Christopher|last=Jensen|date=6 May 2007|publisher=|via=NYTimes.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.boston.com/cars/news/articles/2007/04/15/deal_in_carfax_lawsuit_draws_fire/|title=Deal in Carfax lawsuit draws fire - The Boston Globe|website=www.boston.com}}</ref> The company asserts that it has major accident information from all 50 states and it backs up its claim with a buyback guarantee. The settlement in the West v. CARFAX, Inc lawsuit was overturned, not on the merits of the issue, but on the terms of the settlement which did not offer enough to the affected consumers and because "not enough consumers were notified and the judge should not have agreed to the settlement without knowing more about what it would cost CARFAX."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://wheels.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/12/31/heavily-criticized-carfax-settlement-ruling-is-overturned/|title=Carfax Settlement Is Overturned|first=Christopher|last=Jensen|date=31 December 2009|publisher=}}</ref>


Revision as of 22:34, 16 October 2022

American company providing vehicle data to consumers and businesses Not to be confused with CarMax.
This article contains promotional content. Please help improve it by removing promotional language and inappropriate external links, and by adding encyclopedic text written from a neutral point of view. (July 2019) (Learn how and when to remove this message)
CARFAX, Inc.
Company typeSubsidiary
Industry
Founded1984; 40 years ago (1984)
in Columbia, Missouri
FoundersRobert Daniel Clark
Ewin Barnett
HeadquartersCentreville, Virginia, United States
Area served
ProductsCARFAX Reports
Services
ParentS&P Global
Subsidiaries
  • CARFAX Canada ULC
  • CARFAX Europe GmbH
Websitecarfax.com

CARFAX, Inc. is an American company that provides vehicle data to individuals and businesses. Its best-known product is the CARFAX Vehicle History Report. Other products include vehicle listings, car valuation, and buying and maintenance advice.

History

CARFAX was founded in Columbia, Missouri in 1984 by Ewin Barnett III and Robert Daniel Clark. In 1986, by working closely with the Missouri Automobile Dealers Association, the company offered an early version of the CARFAX vehicle history report to the dealer market. These reports were developed with a database of 10,000 records and distributed via fax. In December 1996, the company launched its website as part of an effort to sell its reports directly to consumers.

CARFAX has undergone several ownership changes since its founding. In the fall of 1999, Carfax became a wholly owned subsidiary of R.L. Polk & Company. In 2013, IHS acquired Polk and CARFAX. In March 2016, IHS had a merger of equals of equals with Markit, becoming IHS Markit. On February 28, 2022, S&P Global purchased IHS Markit, and CARFAX became a brand in the company's newly formed S&P Global Mobility business unit.

Products and services

CARFAX offers several free products and services and charges a fee for more comprehensive reports.

Free products and services

In 2013, CARFAX launched the service called myCARFAX. The service provides free access to vehicle service information reported to the company and alerts users for upcoming maintenance.

The company offers four vehicle research services, which are: Lemon Check, Record Check, Recall Check, and Problem Car.

The company also provides Car Safety and Reliability Ratings, which provides access to reviews and other data from sources such as the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, J.D. Power and Associates, IntelliChoice and others.

Vehicle history reports

The CARFAX Vehicle History Report is the company's core product. Users purchase either a single report or create an account for building multiple reports for different vehicles, allowing consumers to utilize CARFAX over a length of time. Additionally, buyers can request CARFAX reports for free from auto dealers who offer CARFAX service, and some automakers routinely provide CARFAX reports as part of their pre-owned vehicle programs.

myCARFAX

In early 2012 the company launched a new service which uses service information reported to CARFAX to help vehicle owners with things like oil changes and routine vehicle maintenance. The service was later expanded to include alerts about open recalls issued by vehicle manufacturers.

CARFAX Used Car Listings

In April 2014, CARFAX introduced another free service called CARFAX Used Car Listings (UCL). The new service gives used car buyers the ability to search for used cars with make, model, and vehicular history.

Information sourcing

CARFAX claims to have access to twenty billion records from more than 100,000 sources, including motor vehicle departments for the 50 U.S. states and the 10 Canadian provinces. The company's information sources include U.S. state title and registration records, auto and salvage auctions, Canadian motor vehicle records, rental and fleet vehicle companies, consumer protection agencies, state inspection stations, extended warranty companies, insurance companies, fire and police departments, manufacturers, inspection companies, service and repair facilities, dealers and import/export companies.

CARFAX lists only information that is reported to them and consumers should not take this report to be a complete accident history. Not all accidents are disclosed and CARFAX uses the language "no accidents have been reported to CARFAX," the emphasis being on "reported". Consumers should not rely on CARFAX alone when checking out a used vehicle.

Although CARFAX continuously expands its database and resources, some information is not allowed to be provided. Under the 1994 U.S. Drivers Privacy Protection Act, personal information such as names, telephone numbers and addresses of current or previous owners are neither collected nor reported. CARFAX does not have access to every facility and mistakes are sometimes made by those who input data. In the event information is disputed but cannot be verified, CARFAX allows consumers and dealerships to add information to its reports.

Legal disputes

West v. CARFAX

In 2006 class action lawsuit, the plaintiff claimed that CARFAX violated consumer protection laws by not disclosing the limitations of their service, specifically their inability to check accident records in 23 states in the U.S. while stating that their database contains information from all 50 states. The lawsuit was settled in May 2007 in the Trumbull County Common Pleas Court in Warren, Ohio. The company asserts that it has major accident information from all 50 states and it backs up its claim with a buyback guarantee. The settlement in the West v. CARFAX, Inc lawsuit was overturned, not on the merits of the issue, but on the terms of the settlement which did not offer enough to the affected consumers and because "not enough consumers were notified and the judge should not have agreed to the settlement without knowing more about what it would cost CARFAX."

See also

References

  1. "How To Read Accident Information On A Carfax Vehicle History Report". J.D. Power. Retrieved 2022-10-16.
  2. "CARFAX™ - Shop, Buy, Own, & Sell Used Cars". www.carfax.com. Retrieved 2022-10-16.
  3. Town and Country Auto Sales website Archived December 27, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
  4. "Polk Automotive Has Been Acquired". IHS Markit. 2019-10-29. Retrieved 2021-04-18.
  5. CNBC (2016-03-21). "IHS to buy data provider Markit". CNBC. Retrieved 2017-04-19.
  6. "S&P Global to buy IHS Markit in $44bn deal". Financial Times. 2020-11-30. Retrieved 2022-09-22.
  7. Hoffman, Cara Lombardo And Liz (2020-11-30). "S&P Global Agrees to Buy IHS Markit for About $44 Billion". Wall Street Journal. ISSN 0099-9660. Retrieved 2022-09-22.
  8. "Carfax Unveils New Car Care Mobile App - Jun 20, 2013". Archived from the original on 2015-10-04. Retrieved 2015-09-02.
  9. Legacy Owners Association, "Carfax Expands Relationship with Subaru," July 27, 2007,
  10. Ad Hoc News "Saturn Selects Carfax for Certified Pre-Owned Program" November 16, 2007 Archived February 8, 2012, at the Wayback Machine
  11. "MyCARFAX free app makes keeping track of recalls easy with your license plate rather than VIN - + KSHB.com". Archived from the original on 2015-10-01. Retrieved 2015-10-04.
  12. "SHIFTMobility Integrates Carfax Information Into App". AutoDealer Monthly. 14 April 2015. Retrieved 22 September 2015.
  13. Basso, Chris. "Carfax Database Hits 20 Billion Records". CARFAX.
  14. "Where Does CARFAX Get its Vehicle History Data?". CARFAX.
  15. "Drivers Privacy Protection Act". www.accessreports.com.
  16. "ABC7 News - KGO Bay Area and San Francisco News". ABC7 San Francisco.
  17. "West v. Carfax, Inc. and Polk Carfax, Inc. - Public Citizen". www.citizen.org.
  18. Jensen, Christopher (6 May 2007). "It's the Truth, but Not the Whole Truth" – via NYTimes.com.
  19. "Deal in Carfax lawsuit draws fire - The Boston Globe". www.boston.com.
  20. Jensen, Christopher (31 December 2009). "Carfax Settlement Is Overturned".

External links

IHS Markit
Current properties
Former properties
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