I notice on http://www.nadaguides.com/ a link under Car Shopping for a Free VIN Check. For one it is not really free. The link will take you to http://www.autocheck.com/consumers/gateway...&siteID=359

Autocheck claims to be better and less expensive as compared to Carfax. Out of curiosity I tried my Silverado and my wife's MPV. It claims 4 records for my Silverado and 7 record on our MPV. I didn't pay for their so called free VIN check. Now my Silverado was in an accident on the 21st which would seem to be too soon for a report. I wouldn't expect it on a report until the dollar figure and repairs are completed.

What I find really odd is the only records could be our purchase which both were new with less than 20 on either odometer at the time of purchase and some oil change and tire rotations. Even there the counts would be wrong.

I would expect the same rules as for not posting a carfax report would apply but has anyone seen one of these reports and what types of records would it be showing. Imagine attempting to sell a car with someone using this VIN check and seeing several records then not even considering a purchase based the number of records and thinking the car was wrecked several times.

Annual registration renewals from some states and service visits at some dealers show up as "records" on the Carfax reports. Sometimes the filing of the certificate of origin with the state DOT/DMV and the actual issuing of a title will sometime show up as separare events as well.

At least that means the number of records doesn't indicate a potential problem. It shocked me and means the wording of Free VIN Check could be a problem without knowing what information could generate a record.

Thanks.

Strange....