FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know about CarHistoryReport.ca
Is the VIN check really free?
Yes — VIN decoding, NHTSA recall lookup, complaint database, and safety ratings are 100% free with no account required. We sourced this data from public NHTSA APIs and present it cleanly. Full vehicle history reports (accidents, ownership, title status) will be paid when they launch.
How is this different from Carfax?
Three key differences: (1) Free tier — Carfax has no free tier at all. (2) Price — our Smart Buyer Report is $14.99 CAD ($9.99 for first 100 founding members) vs Carfax's $44.99. (3) AI insights — every report includes a plain-English buyer analysis powered by Claude AI, with model-specific known issues, maintenance forecast, and inspection checklist tailored to Canadian conditions.
Where does your data come from?
For the free tier, we pull from four public government sources: the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) for recalls, complaints, safety ratings, and investigations; Transport Canada for Canadian-specific recalls; the US EPA for fuel economy data (converted to Canadian L/100km); and the ISO 3779 VIN standard for structural decoding. When we launch the paid Smart Buyer Report, we'll add AI-generated model insights, maintenance guidance, and market value estimates.
When are full history reports launching?
We're launching imminently. The free service is live now to validate the product. Join our waitlist to lock in founding-member pricing ($9.99 CAD instead of $14.99 regular) and to be notified the day Smart Buyer Reports go live.
What is a VIN?
A Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) is a unique 17-character code assigned to every motor vehicle. You can find it on the dashboard near the windshield, on the driver-side door jamb, on registration documents, and on insurance papers. It contains coded information about the vehicle's manufacturer, model, year, and serial number.
Are NHTSA recalls relevant for Canadian vehicles?
Yes. We integrate data from both NHTSA (US) and Transport Canada to give you the most complete picture for Canadian vehicles. Most recalls appear in both databases because the auto markets are deeply integrated, but Canada-specific recalls (different fuel grades, climate adaptations, market variants) show up only in Transport Canada — and we surface those clearly with a 🍁 badge on the report.
Can I trust the AI Risk Score?
The AI Risk Score is a useful guide, but it's based only on the data we can see. It analyzes recalls, complaints, safety ratings, and (in paid reports) accident and ownership data. We always recommend a professional pre-purchase inspection before buying any used vehicle, regardless of what the report shows.
How do I check a Canadian vehicle?
Just enter the 17-character VIN on the homepage. Our system decodes the VIN using NHTSA's database and shows you free safety data. The VIN itself works the same in Canada and the US — both countries use the ISO 3779 standard.
Do you sell my data?
No. We don't sell, rent, or share your personal information with third parties for marketing. See our Privacy Policy for full details. We follow Canada's PIPEDA privacy laws.
I'm a car dealer. How does the dealer program work?
Our upcoming dealer program will alert you in real-time when consumers run VIN reports on vehicles in your inventory — letting you reach out to hot leads before competitors. Founding members (first 50 dealers) lock in 50% off pricing for 12 months. Visit our For Dealers page to join the waitlist.
Can I get a refund on a paid report?
When paid reports launch, refunds will be available within 24 hours if the report could not be generated due to data issues. Once a complete report is delivered, all sales are final per our Terms of Service.
What if my VIN doesn't decode?
Check that you entered all 17 characters correctly. VINs use only certain letters (no I, O, or Q to avoid confusion with 1 and 0). If the decode still fails, the VIN may be from a vehicle outside North America or before 1981 when VINs became standardized.