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Automotive · head to head

Carfax vs CDK Global

Carfax logo

Carfax

Automotive

Vehicle history reports and information

From
$2.99/report
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
CDK Global logo

CDK Global

Automotive

Drive your dealership forward

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; CDK Global no pricing information is published on the website
  • They diverge on capability: Carfax covers Vehicle history reports, CDK Global covers Dealer Management System.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Carfax and CDK Global actually diverge.

Attributes where Carfax and CDK Global differ
AttributeCarfaxCDK Global
Starting price$2.99/reportOn request
Pricing modelsubscriptionquote
PlatformsWeb, Mobile, AppWeb, Desktop, Api
Founded19842014

Identical on both: free tier (No), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Automotive).

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 CDK Global

  • Dealer Management System
  • Sales desking
  • F&I management
  • Service scheduling
  • Parts inventory
  • Accounting
  • CRM integration
  • Digital retailing

What people use each for

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

Carfax

  • Dealership Managementnot CDK Global
  • Service Schedulingnot CDK Global
  • Inventory Managementnot CDK Global
  • Sales Operationsnot CDK Global
  • Customer Relationshipnot CDK Global

CDK Global

  • Dealership operationsnot Carfax
  • Sales managementnot Carfax
  • Service departmentnot Carfax
  • Parts managementnot Carfax
  • Financial reportingnot Carfax

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

CDK Global

  • No pricing information is published on the website
  • Pricing model is not disclosed; buyers must contact sales directly

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

CDK Global

On request
  • Drive$undefined/month
    • Core DMS functionality
    • Sales & F&I
    • Service & parts
  • Drive+$undefined/month
    • Everything in Drive
    • Advanced CRM
    • Digital retailing
  • Enterprise$undefined/month
    • Everything in Drive+
    • Custom integrations
    • Dedicated support

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 CDK Global if

  • You need dealer management system.
  • You work on Web, Desktop, Api.
  • You also want sales desking.
CDK Global review

Questions people ask

Is Carfax or CDK Global better?
Neither clearly leads. Carfax starts at $2.99/report and CDK Global at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Carfax or CDK Global?
Carfax starts at $2.99/report and CDK Global at On request.
Does Carfax or CDK Global run on more platforms?
Carfax runs on Web, Mobile, App. CDK Global runs on Web, Desktop, Api.
What is Carfax best used for?
Carfax is most often used for dealership management, service scheduling, inventory management, sales operations. Of those, dealership management and service scheduling are not what CDK Global is typically brought in for.
What can Carfax do that CDK Global cannot?
Carfax covers Vehicle history reports, Service records, Accident information, Ownership history. CDK Global covers Dealer Management System, Sales desking, F&I management, Service scheduling.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

CDK Global: How much does CDK Global cost?

CDK Global does not publish pricing on its website. The vendor requires customers to contact their sales team directly at 833.620.2129 or through their contact form to obtain quotes.

Source
CDK Global: What is CDK Global's pricing model?

The pricing model is not disclosed. CDK Global directs all pricing inquiries to their sales team, suggesting a custom quote or negotiated pricing structure.

Source
CDK Global: Is there a free trial available?

No information about free trials is provided on CDK Global's website.

Source
CDK Global: Who should I contact for pricing information?

Contact CDK Global's sales team at 833.620.2129 or 847.397.1700, or visit their Contact Us page to request pricing information.

Source
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