Is Carproof the best history search source for a Canadian vehicle?

 

It seems to be. I compared to a Carfax on a clean, imported US car and everything matched exactly, though it would be interesting to see what one said for a known-bad car.

 

Carfax missed the accident on my 85. It did show on car proof.

 

Guys do not trust either.

I've known two parties (not including member above) who have either bought a car on a clean Carfax or Carcheck and both turned out to be in accidents.

GET A PPI! A PPI that uses a paint meter and other experience to determine whether a car was in a crash is the best bet. Include the sellers own ownership documentation and then you'll be well covered.

 

I've seen them screw up on the odometer readings on US cars because of the Miles to Kilometers readings. Some times a previous owner will write down the miles on the car when renewing plates and the MTO will take it as KM not miles.

 

I think you're supposed to write down the reading on the odometer on that form -- it doesn't matter whether it's in miles or KM. They don't convert.

 

Your right, and people will write down the miles down and MTO takes it as KM.

 

This is spot on. A Carproof report is only one piece of the puzzle. An important piece, no doubt, but only a piece, and definitely not a substitute for a PPI.

Carfax has much better data collection, but is spotty with Canadian cars. Sometimes it's better than the carproof, sometimes worse. Certainly for US cars it's much better than carproof for Canadian cars. But still only one piece of the puzzle.

 

Its one tool of many you should use.

 

Just to close the loop...I agree that it is only one piece of the puzzle. Ran the Carproof last night for $51 and it only listed data from 2001 to present on a 1997 Cdn car that has been in Ontario since new. I called this morning to complain and they immediately refunded my money...without me even asking for that! I might try a Carfax now just to see if there is a difference in the data.

 

I don't think either service was around from 1997 to 2001...that could be the issue.

 

Carfax on my car goes back to 1996 purchase in Florida.

 

Every carfax I have pulled went back to the mid 90's for sure!

 

Ran the carfax...it went back to early 1998 and the first registration, but missed the last two registrations in 2012 and 2013!

 

I ran a Carfax on my 99 Boxster a US import. History came up from day 1.