Best vehicle history report: every provider's price, checked
The cheapest NMVTIS-approved history report is VinAudit at $9.99; the most detailed is Carfax at $49.99, or free on a Carfax or dealer listing. AutoCheck is $29.99, EpicVIN $24.99, ClearVin $17.99, and Bumper $27.99 a month. All read from the providers' own sites on .
Prices and terms checked on each provider's own site on . Providers change prices without notice; the source for every figure is listed at the foot of the page.
The comparison
"NMVTIS-approved for consumers" means the provider is on the US Department of Justice list to sell the federal title record to the public. Carfax and Experian appear on that list for dealers only.
| Provider | One report | Packs or subscription | Pricing model | NMVTIS-approved for consumers? | What it includes | What it lacks | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NICB VINCheck | Free | Five lookups per 24 hours per IP address | Free | Not applicable | Reported stolen and not recovered; salvage or flood total-loss from participating insurers | No title history, no odometer, no accidents; only participating insurers | |
| NHTSA recall lookup | Free | Unlimited | Free | Not applicable | Unrepaired safety recalls for the VIN | Nothing about title, damage or ownership | |
| VinAudit | $9.99 | 5 for $19.99; 10 for $29.99 | One-time | Yes, approved | NMVTIS title, brand, odometer, total-loss and salvage records, plus a market value | No dealer service history; accident detail is thinner than Carfax | |
| ClearVin | $17.99 | 2 for $23.98; 5 for $28.99 | One-time | Yes, approved | NMVTIS title and brand history, total loss, junk and salvage, liens and impounds, sales history, auction photos | No maintenance records (stated on its site) | |
| EpicVIN | $24.99 | 4 for $29.99; 16 for $86.34; or a $1 three-day trial then $49.99 a month | One-time or subscription | Yes, approved | NMVTIS title brands, total loss, odometer rollback alert, liens, auction sales history and photos, theft records | No dealer service history; the $1 trial converts to $49.99 a month unless cancelled | |
| Bumper | $31.99 | $27.99 a month for 50 reports; 3 months $54.58; $1 or $5 seven-day trial then $27.99 a month | One-time or subscription | Yes, approved | Accident lookups (coverage varies by state), salvage and theft lookups, title and lien details, sales history, market value, recalls and specs, PDF download on most plans | Membership auto-renews every 30 days until you cancel; one-time report costs more than a month | |
| AutoCheck (Experian) | $29.99 | 5 reports for 21 days, $59.99 | One-time | Dealers only, not consumers | Accident and damage records, auction announcements, title and odometer data, the AutoCheck Score, 21 days of data updates | Consumers cannot buy an NMVTIS report from Experian; thinner service history than Carfax | |
| Carfax | $49.99 | 2 for $69.99; 4 for $119.99 | One-time | Dealers only, not consumers | Reported accidents with severity and point of impact, dealer service records, ownership history, odometer, title and lemon or flood brands | Most expensive; consumers cannot buy an NMVTIS report from Carfax; only records reported to Carfax | |
| CarWorthIt (not a history report) | Free decode; valuation $2.99; Worth It report $6.99 | Negotiation bundle $9.99; one-time, no subscription | Not a history report | No | Specs, open recalls, crash ratings and running costs free; then what the car is worth near you at its mileage, what it cost new and its factory options | No title, accident, theft, odometer or lien records. Buy those from a provider above. |
The honest winner for each buyer
You just want to know the title is clean
VinAudit, $9.99
The cheapest NMVTIS-approved report we could verify. It shows the current title, every brand from every state, the odometer readings and total-loss and salvage history, which is the fraud check that matters. Five reports for $19.99 if you are shortlisting.
You are comparing three or four cars
EpicVIN four-pack, $29.99, or AutoCheck five for $59.99
EpicVIN's four reports for $29.99 is the lowest per-car price with NMVTIS data and auction photos, provided you buy the pack and not the $1 trial, which becomes $49.99 a month. AutoCheck's five for $59.99 adds Experian's accident and auction records, with no subscription.
You want the deepest accident and service history on one expensive car
Carfax, $49.99, or free from the listing
Carfax lists dealer service records, oil changes and tire rotations included, that the NMVTIS-based reports do not. Before you pay, check whether the car is on a Carfax or dealer listing, which include the report free, or ask the seller for theirs. Then still run a cheap NMVTIS check yourself, because consumers cannot buy an NMVTIS report from Carfax.
You are on eBay Motors
The AutoCheck report in the listing, free
eBay says many sellers include an AutoCheck report in the Vehicle History Report tab. If it is not there, you can buy one from the listing.
You check cars every week
Bumper, $27.99 a month for 50 reports
A membership only makes sense at volume. It auto-renews every 30 days until you cancel, and the $1.00 trial is the same membership with a seven-day head start, so set a reminder. A single Bumper report is $31.99, more than a month.
You want to know what to pay
CarWorthIt, from $2.99
No history report answers this, because it is a different question. Once the history is clean, we price the exact VIN at its mileage against cars listed near your ZIP code and say whether the asking price stands up. We do not sell history data and we say so.
Start with the free checks
Before paying anyone, two official sources cover the fraud basics for nothing. The NICB VINCheck tells you whether a participating insurer has reported the car stolen and not recovered, or declared it a salvage or flood total loss, with a limit of 5 lookups per 24 hours. NHTSA shows every unrepaired safety recall for the VIN. Decode the VIN free with our VIN decoder to confirm the listing matches the car. None of that is a title history, which is where the paid report earns its money.
What NMVTIS actually gives you
The National Motor Vehicle Title Information System is the federal database that state titling agencies, insurers, auto recyclers and junk and salvage yards are required by law to report to. An NMVTIS report is deliberately short: the current state of title and last title date, the brand history from every state (salvage, junk, flood, rebuilt and the rest), the odometer reading, total-loss history and salvage history. It does not contain repair histories or recall information; the DOJ says plainly that those belong to the private providers. That is the split to keep in mind: NMVTIS for "has this car been branded or written off anywhere", Carfax or AutoCheck for "what happened to it in between". The approved consumer providers on the DOJ list as of September 15, 2026 are Bumper.com, Carsforsale.com, Carvertical.com, Checkthatvin.com, Clearvin.com, EpicVin.com, GoodCar.com, Titlecheck.us, Vinaudit.com, Vindata.com, VinReport, Vinsmart.com.
The subscription trap, spelled out
Two of the cheapest headline prices are trials. Bumper's $1.00 (or $5.00 with PDF download) buys 7 days, after which the membership bills $27.99a month and renews every 30 days until you cancel, by phone, email, the contact form or your account page. EpicVIN's $1 buys 3 days, capped at 5 reports a day, then $49.99 a month plus tax. Neither is hidden, and both let you cancel online, but if you want one report and you value your time, a one-time purchase is the cheaper path. The full terms are on the Bumper review.
Why Carfax and AutoCheck cost more
They own data the others cannot buy. Carfax describes its database as holding billions of records from more than 151,000 sources, and its report checks for reported accidents with severity and point of impact, airbag deployment, and service items such as oil changes, tire rotations and brake work. AutoCheck says it has data from 95% of US auction houses, most of them supplying structural-damage announcements, and adds its score. If a documented accident and service trail changes your decision on the car in front of you, that is the one thing worth paying more for. It is also the thing you can often get free: see what a Carfax report costs and how to get an AutoCheck report free. The longer argument is in is Carfax worth it.
History clean? Now the other question: what should you pay?
Run the VIN free for the specification, open recalls, crash ratings and running costs. Then from $2.99, see what this exact car is worth at its mileage near your ZIP code and whether the asking price stands up. The $6.99 Worth It report adds what it cost new and its factory options; the $9.99 bundle adds your opening offer and walk-away price.
CarWorthIt is not a vehicle history report and is not an NMVTIS provider. We hold no title, accident, theft, odometer or lien records. We price the car; for its past, use one of the providers above.
Common questions
What is the best vehicle history report?
It depends on the job. For a cheap, authoritative title and brand check, an NMVTIS report from VinAudit at $9.99 (checked September 15, 2026). For the deepest accident and dealer service history on one car, Carfax at $49.99, or free if the car is on a Carfax or dealer listing. For comparing several cars, EpicVIN's four for $29.99 or AutoCheck's five for $59.99. For volume, Bumper's $27.99 a month.
What is the cheapest vehicle history report?
Free, for part of it: NHTSA shows unrepaired recalls by VIN and the NICB VINCheck shows theft and insurer total-loss records, five lookups a day. The cheapest paid report we could verify on the provider's own site is VinAudit at $9.99 for one or $19.99 for five, and it is NMVTIS-approved. EpicVIN's four reports for $29.99 works out cheaper per car.
Which vehicle history reports are NMVTIS-approved?
Of the providers on this page, Bumper, EpicVIN, VinAudit and ClearVin are on the US Department of Justice list of approved NMVTIS data providers for consumers. Carfax and Experian (AutoCheck) are listed for commercial customers only, and the DOJ page states that consumers cannot receive NMVTIS reports from Carfax or Experian. That does not mean their reports lack title data; it means the official federal record is not what you are buying from them.
Is a $1 vehicle history report real?
The $1 is real but it is a trial. Bumper's $1.00 seven-day trial becomes $27.99 a month and EpicVIN's $1 three-day trial becomes $49.99 a month, both renewing until you cancel (checked September 15, 2026). If you only need one or two reports, a one-time purchase is cheaper than forgetting to cancel.
Do cheaper reports use the same data as Carfax?
They overlap on title, brand, odometer, theft and total-loss records, which come from NMVTIS and state sources any approved provider can access. What Carfax and AutoCheck add is their own accident, dealer service and auction feeds, which is why they cost more and why a minor reported fender-bender or a service visit may only show up there.
Can I get a vehicle history report for free?
Yes, in three places. Every Carfax used-car listing includes a free Carfax report and many dealer websites link one. eBay Motors listings often include an AutoCheck report in the Vehicle History Report tab. And NHTSA and the NICB give you recalls, theft and total-loss records for nothing. What you cannot get free is a full title-brand and odometer history for a private-party car.
Is CarWorthIt a vehicle history report?
No. CarWorthIt is not an NMVTIS provider and holds no title, accident, theft, odometer or lien records. The free report decodes the VIN and shows specs, open recalls, crash ratings and running costs. The paid reports, from $2.99, price that exact car near you at its mileage and say whether the asking price is fair. Buy the history from a provider above, then use us to decide what to pay.
When were these prices checked?
Every price on this page was read from the provider's own purchase page or product feed on September 15, 2026. The source URLs are listed at the foot of the page. Providers change prices without notice, so confirm on their site before you pay.
Sources and dates checked
- https://secure.carfax.com/creditCard.cfx?previousPage=vhrl (checked 2026-09-15): Carfax packages: 1 report $49.99; 2 reports $69.99 ($34.99 each); 4 reports $119.99 ($30.00 each)carfax.com redirects non-US visitors to carfax.eu and loads its package prices client-side, so the purchase page was rendered through a US-side reader (r.jina.ai). The package names and prices are quoted verbatim.
- https://support.carfax.com/article/can-i-get-free-carfax-vehicle-history-reports/ (checked 2026-09-15): Carfax: every Carfax used-car listing includes a free Carfax report; dealers often link free reports; ask a private seller for theirsRead through the same US-side reader; support.carfax.com returns 403 to non-US requests.
- https://www.carfax.com/vehicle-history-reports/ (checked 2026-09-14): Carfax History-Based Value examples: 2012 Toyota Camry SE $14,230 with no accidents against $13,410 with accidents; 2014 Ford F-150 XL $23,290 with regular oil changes against $21,970 with no service recordsRead from the Internet Archive capture of September 14, 2026, because carfax.com redirects non-US readers to carfax.eu.
- https://www.carfax.com/vehicle-history-reports/ (checked 2026-09-14): Carfax describes its database as "containing billions of records from more than 151,000 domestic and international sources" and lists service history items (oil changes, tire rotations, brake rotor replacement, transmission replacement) among what every report checks forInternet Archive capture of September 14, 2026 (carfax.com geo-blocks non-US readers).
- https://www.autocheck.com/consumer-api/product/v1/partner (checked 2026-09-15): AutoCheck for Business description: "Data from 95% of all U.S. auction houses, with most providing exclusive structural damage announcements" and "tens of thousands of distinct accident sources"
- https://consumer.ftc.gov/articles/buying-used-car-dealer (checked 2026-09-15): FTC: dealers must display a Buyers Guide in every used car offered for sale, stating whether the car is sold "as is" or with a warranty
- https://www.carfax.com/company/terms-of-use (checked 2026-09-15): Carfax Terms of Use section 5: access is for personal, non-commercial use only; "You may not resell or make any commercial use of any Service(s)"
- https://www.autocheck.com/consumer-api/product/v1/partner (checked 2026-09-15): AutoCheck: Single Report $29.99 one-time with 21 days of data updates; 5 Reports for 21 Days $59.99 one-time; AutoCheck for Business $99.99AutoCheck’s own product feed, the JSON that autocheck.com/vehiclehistory renders its package picker from. Names and descriptions quoted verbatim.
- https://www.ebay.com/help/buying/getting-started-ebay/buying-vehicles-parts-accessories?id=4639 (checked 2026-09-15): eBay Motors: "Many sellers include a vehicle history report from AutoCheck. If they have, you’ll find it in the “Vehicle History Report” tab. If the seller hasn’t provided a report, you’ll have the option to buy one."
- https://www.bumper.com/lp/114010/4/subscribe (checked 2026-09-15): Bumper membership: $27.99 per month for 50 reports a month with PDF download; 3 months $54.58; "Plans start at $27.99 per month"Plan amounts read from the subscription_plans data embedded in Bumper’s checkout page (2799 and 5458 cents). The homepage FAQ at bumper.com states "Plans start at $27.99 per month". Bumper runs checkout price tests, so a visitor may be shown a different variant.
- https://www.bumper.com/lp/114010/5/special-offer (checked 2026-09-15): Bumper 7-day trial: $1.00 up front (no PDF) or $5.00 (with PDF), then $27.99 per month, renewing every 30 days until cancelled
- https://www.bumper.com/lp/114010/6/one-report (checked 2026-09-15): Bumper single report: $31.99, shown as a one-time payment
- https://www.bumper.com/terms/ (checked 2026-09-15): Bumper cancellation (Terms s.17): cancel anytime in My Account, by phone 1-332-225-9745, by email or the contact form; cancellation does not refund charges already incurred. Refunds (s.18): case by case, typically one per subscription
- https://epicvin.com/price (checked 2026-09-15): EpicVIN (US pricing): 1 report $24.99; 4 reports $29.99; 16 reports $86.34; 3-day trial $1 (up to 5 reports a day) then $49.99 plus tax per month; cancel anytime onlineThe US region page, selected with the site’s own region switch. The global page shows different subscription pricing.
- https://www.vinaudit.com/ (checked 2026-09-15): VinAudit: single report $9.99; 5 reports $19.99; 10 reports $29.99; "VinAudit is an approved NMVTIS data provider"
- https://www.clearvin.com/en/payment/buy-credits/ (checked 2026-09-15): ClearVin: 1 report $17.99; 2 reports $23.98; 5 reports $28.99; approved NMVTIS provider; does not include maintenance records
- https://www.nicb.org/vincheck (checked 2026-09-15): NICB VINCheck: free; reports stolen-not-recovered and insurer salvage or flood total-loss records from participating insurers; maximum five searches per 24 hours per IP address
- https://www.nhtsa.gov/recalls (checked 2026-09-15): NHTSA recall lookup by VIN: free; shows unrepaired safety recalls
- https://vehiclehistory.bja.ojp.gov/nmvtis_vehiclehistory (checked 2026-09-15): US DOJ list of approved NMVTIS data providers; consumers cannot get NMVTIS reports from Carfax, DMVDesk or Experian (AutoCheck)
- https://vehiclehistory.bja.ojp.gov/nmvtis_understandingvhr (checked 2026-09-15): What an NMVTIS report contains: current state of title and last title date, brand history, odometer reading, total loss history, salvage history; sources are state titling agencies, junk and salvage yards, auto recyclers and insurers
- https://vehiclehistory.bja.ojp.gov/nmvtis-annual-reports-and-financial-audits/glossary (checked 2026-09-15): NMVTIS glossary: a brand is "a designation placed on a vehicle ownership document ... which identifies or describes an event that affects the value or safety of the vehicle, such as Junk, Salvage, or Flood"; a cloned vehicle carries a legitimate VIN plate replicated from another car; the odometer reading is reported to NMVTIS when a state titles the vehicle; all fifty states participated in FY2023
- https://vehiclehistory.bja.ojp.gov/nmvtis_consumers (checked 2026-09-15): NMVTIS definition of a title brand: "a descriptive label that states assign to a vehicle to identify the vehicle’s current or prior condition, such as junk, salvage, flood"
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