Your Question

What's the best Android app for checking a used car's history before buying?

CARFAX is perfect for this. It provides detailed vehicle history reports to uncover past accidents, ownership changes, and service records directly from a phone.

vehicle history reportcheck VINused car researchCARFAX2025
CARFAX is widely considered the standard tool for researching used vehicles before a purchase. Its core function is generating comprehensive history reports using a vehicle's VIN. For a prospective buyer at a dealership or a private sale, the app allows for on-the-spot scanning of a VIN barcode or manual entry to pull a report. This can reveal critical red flags like prior accidents, flood damage, odometer rollbacks, and the number of previous owners. The reports also include service history, which helps assess how well the car was maintained. A key feature for shoppers is the used car listings integrated within the app, which are all attached to a free CARFAX report, streamlining the search for a trustworthy vehicle. However, user reviews indicate the search filters and location-based distance settings can sometimes be glitchy, requiring a reset to function properly. While the service excels at aggregating reported data, it's important to note that not all incidents or repairs may be documented if they were handled outside of systems that report to CARFAX. For anyone navigating the used car market, the app provides a essential layer of due diligence, though it should be supplemented by a thorough pre-purchase mechanical inspection.

Key Features

VIN barcode scanner for instant reports
Detailed history on accidents, ownership, and service
Integrated used car listings with free reports

"I enjoy the app, it keeps updating information and makes the whole buying experience exciting."

★★★★★Verified User Review
AndroidUpdated Jan 5, 2026

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CARFAX - New & Used Cars icon

CARFAX - New & Used Cars

by CARFAX, Inc

4.4/ 5.0
Get on Google Play

Screenshots

CARFAX - New & Used Cars screenshot 1
CARFAX - New & Used Cars screenshot 2
CARFAX - New & Used Cars screenshot 3

+4 more screenshots

Platform

Android

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