CarFax

What is CarFax?

CarFax Canada is the dominant Canadian vehicle history report service. It originated as CarProof, a Canadian-founded service that aggregated provincial registry data, insurance claim records, and lien encumbrance information into a single VIN-keyed report. CarFax (the larger US-based vehicle history company) acquired CarProof in 2015, rebranded the service CarFax Canada, and merged the underlying data sources. The result is a single report that draws on Canadian provincial sources and is the de facto standard for used-vehicle due diligence in Canada.

A CarFax Canada report keyed to a vehicle’s VIN typically includes: registration history across all Canadian provinces (every owner the registry can identify), accident and insurance claim records (subject to privacy limits — minor non-claim repairs may not appear), lien encumbrances registered in provincial Personal Property Security Registries, odometer history with rollback flags, US import/export markers, stolen-vehicle status flags, recall information from Transport Canada, and any title brand history including Salvage Title status.

Reports cost roughly $40 to $55 CAD when ordered individually through carfax.ca. Most reputable Canadian dealers — particularly those licensed by AMVIC, OMVIC, or VSA — provide CarFax Canada reports free as part of their pre-sale disclosure documentation.

Why it matters in Canada

The structural value of CarFax Canada specifically (versus the US CarFax product) is the Canadian data sources. ICBC accident claim data from British Columbia, SAAQ registration and accident data from Quebec, IBC industry-wide insurance claim aggregation, and provincial Personal Property Security Registry lien data are all Canadian-only sources that the US CarFax product cannot access. A vehicle that has spent its life in Canada will show essentially nothing on a US-only CarFax, which is why buyers cross-shopping between Canadian listings and US imports must obtain the Canadian product specifically.

The limit of the system worth understanding: minor accidents repaired through a body shop without an insurance claim often never surface on any vehicle history report. CarFax accident dollar figures reflect insurance claim totals, not appraisal values, so a $3,000 cosmetic claim looks similar to a $3,000 minor structural repair. A clean CarFax is a strong positive signal but not a complete absence of accident history. A pre-purchase inspection by an independent mechanic plus a paint-thickness gauge check on body panels remains the necessary complement to a clean CarFax.

Common questions

Is CarFax Canada the same as US CarFax?

No. CarFax Canada (formerly CarProof, acquired in 2015) draws on Canadian-specific data sources — ICBC for British Columbia accident claims, SAAQ for Quebec registration and accident records, IBC insurance industry data, and provincial Personal Property Security Registries for lien information. US CarFax draws on US state DMV records and US insurance industry data and has limited or no visibility into Canadian provincial sources. A vehicle that has lived in Canada will show essentially nothing on a US-only CarFax. Buyers must obtain the Canadian product specifically for due diligence on Canadian-history vehicles.

What does a CarFax Canada report show?

A typical CarFax Canada report includes registration history across all Canadian provinces, accident and insurance claim records (subject to privacy limits and what insurers report), lien encumbrances registered in provincial Personal Property Security Registries, odometer history with rollback flags, US import/export markers, stolen-vehicle status, Transport Canada recall information, and title brand history including Salvage Title status. The report is keyed to the vehicle’s VIN and is the most comprehensive single document available for Canadian used-vehicle due diligence.

Should I trust a clean CarFax?

A clean CarFax is a strong positive signal but not a complete absence of accident history. The system has structural blind spots: minor accidents repaired through a body shop without an insurance claim often never surface on any history report. Cosmetic damage repaired privately, particularly on Japanese imports that may have spent time in jurisdictions without comprehensive accident reporting, may also be invisible. A clean CarFax should be paired with a pre-purchase inspection by an independent mechanic and a paint-thickness gauge check on body panels for complete due diligence.

How much does a CarFax cost in Canada?

A single CarFax Canada report ordered through carfax.ca currently costs roughly $40 to $55 CAD as of 2026. Bulk packages are available at lower per-report rates for buyers comparing multiple vehicles. Most reputable Canadian dealers — particularly those licensed by AMVIC, OMVIC, or VSA — provide CarFax Canada reports free as part of their pre-sale disclosure documentation. For private-sale due diligence, ordering a CarFax independently (or asking the seller to do so) is recommended.