Carfax: accident on report from a rental car accident? (insurance, vehicles, salvage)

[minibrings]

I was told by a dealer selling a car that there is an accident on teh carfax. However, when he spoke to the owner of the car, he was told it was because the owner had been in an accident on a rental car and gave them his license plate # to prove he had insurance so it showed on the car being sold.

OMG.. is this even possible? I don't think this is possible, the report should go by VIn and not license plate of insured vehicle. I walked away.

Thoughts?

[Me007gold]

not possible, carfax is tied to the vin, not the licence plate number

[JoshB]

Carfax will get blunders every once in a while, however as 007 states, the carfax follows the vin number. You could obtain a copy of the police report and that would state the vehicles involved if you wanted to go that far.

[Hemlock140]

There are plenty of used cars available, any sign of an issue walking away is the best solution.

[minibrings]

Originally Posted by Hemlock140

There are plenty of used cars available, any sign of an issue walking away is the best solution.

Thanks all. I did walk away..even though I liked the car..

[crestliner]

Sounds like some salesman creative way to get by a bad car fax report...

[ReblTeen84]

At least the car guy gave you the carfax - when I bought my first Jeep, one of them I looked at didn't feel right - engine ran louder than I was expecting and it was a bit..bare. Salesguy didn't have/wouldn't give me a carfax so I pulled it at home. It had been totaled and had a salvage title on it. Would explain why I hadn't seen any insulation in the engine bay I walked away from it and bought a newer, nicer one.