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Software · head to head

Carfax vs Carvana

Carfax logo

Carfax

Software

Vehicle history reports and information

From
$2.99/report
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Carvana logo

Carvana

Software

The new way to buy and sell cars

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Carfax cARFAX's dealer-facing mobile app is restricted to business subscribers and explicitly cannot be used with a consumer CARFAX account; Carvana as archived in December 2019, Carvana limits its money-back guarantee to a 7-day return window rather than offering open-ended returns, after which a purchased vehicle cannot be exchanged or refunded.
  • They diverge on capability: Carfax covers Vehicle history reports, Carvana covers Online marketplace.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Carfax and Carvana actually diverge.

Attributes where Carfax and Carvana differ
AttributeCarfaxCarvana
Starting price$2.99/reportOn request
Pricing modelsubscriptiontransaction
Founded19842012

Identical on both: free tier (No), platforms (Web, Mobile, App), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Unknown).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Carfax

  • Vehicle history reports
  • Service records
  • Accident information
  • Ownership history
  • Title information
  • Manufacturer recalls
  • Odometer readings
  • Price analysis

Only in Carvana

  • Online marketplace
  • Vehicle listing
  • Instant appraisal
  • Financing options
  • Home delivery
  • 7-day return policy
  • Transparent pricing
  • Trade-in service

Both cover

  • Mobile apps
  • Marketing tools
  • SSL encryption
  • Data protection
  • Secure authentication
  • Privacy compliance

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Carfax

  • Dealership Management
  • Service Scheduling
  • Inventory Management
  • Sales Operations
  • Customer Relationship

Carvana

  • Dealership Management
  • Service Scheduling
  • Inventory Management
  • Sales Operations
  • Customer Relationship

Both are used for dealership management, service scheduling, inventory management, sales operations, customer relationship, on those jobs the choice comes down to price and fit rather than capability.

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Carfax

  • CARFAX's dealer-facing mobile app is restricted to business subscribers and explicitly cannot be used with a consumer CARFAX account

Carvana

  • As archived in December 2019, Carvana limits its money-back guarantee to a 7-day return window rather than offering open-ended returns, after which a purchased vehicle cannot be exchanged or refunded.

Pricing, plan by plan

Carfax

$2.99/report
  • Single Report$2.99/report
    • One vehicle history report
    • Service records
    • Accident history
  • Unlimited Reports$34.99/month
    • Unlimited reports
    • Service history
    • Accident information
  • Dealer Package$299/month
    • Unlimited reports
    • Dealer branding
    • Customer tools

Carvana

On request
  • Buyer StandardFree
    • Free vehicle listings
    • Search and filter
    • Saved vehicles
  • Seller Service$undefined/transaction
    • Free valuation
    • Quick appraisal
    • Immediate cash offer

Which should you pick?

Choose Carfax if

  • You need vehicle history reports.
  • You work on Web, Mobile, App.
  • You also want service records.
Carfax review

Choose Carvana if

  • You need online marketplace.
  • You work on Web, Mobile, App.
  • You also want vehicle listing.
Carvana review

Questions people ask

Is Carfax or Carvana better?
Neither clearly leads. Carfax starts at $2.99/report and Carvana at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Carfax or Carvana?
Carfax starts at $2.99/report and Carvana at On request.
Does Carfax or Carvana run on more platforms?
Both run on Web, Mobile, App, so platform support will not decide this one for you.
What is Carfax best used for?
Carfax is most often used for dealership management, service scheduling, inventory management, sales operations.
What can Carfax do that Carvana cannot?
Carfax covers Vehicle history reports, Service records, Accident information, Ownership history. Carvana covers Online marketplace, Vehicle listing, Instant appraisal, Financing options. Both handle Mobile apps, Marketing tools, SSL encryption, Data protection.
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