Automotive · head to head
Cars.com vs CARFAX for Dealers
The short version
- Each has a real cost: Cars.com cars.com charges shoppers nothing; it is a free listings site monetised via dealer advertising, per the 31 Dec 2020 archive capture; CARFAX for Dealers the App Store listing (publisher CARFAX, Inc.) states the app requires an existing CARFAX for Dealers business account login, so it cannot be evaluated or purchased as a standalone app without a separate commercial dealer contract already in place.
- They diverge on capability: Cars.com covers Vehicle listing, CARFAX for Dealers covers Vehicle history reports.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Cars.com and CARFAX for Dealers actually diverge.
| Attribute | Cars.com | CARFAX for Dealers |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $299/month | On request |
| Platforms | Web, Mobile, App | Web, Mobile, Api |
| Founded | 1998 | 1984 |
Identical on both: pricing model (subscription), 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 Cars.com
- Vehicle listing
- Marketplace access
- Lead generation
- Dealer profile
- Performance tracking
- Mobile responsive
- Photo and video gallery
- Consumer research tools
Only in CARFAX for Dealers
- Vehicle history reports
- Service history
- Accident history
- 1-Owner finder
- CARFAX listings
- Service retention
- Dealer website tools
- Customer leads
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Cars.com
- Dealership Managementnot CARFAX for Dealers
- Service Schedulingnot CARFAX for Dealers
- Inventory Managementnot CARFAX for Dealers
- Sales Operationsnot CARFAX for Dealers
- Customer Relationshipnot CARFAX for Dealers
CARFAX for Dealers
- Vehicle historynot Cars.com
- Customer trustnot Cars.com
- Inventory merchandisingnot Cars.com
- Service retentionnot Cars.com
- Lead generationnot Cars.com
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
Cars.com
- Cars.com charges shoppers nothing; it is a free listings site monetised via dealer advertising, per the 31 Dec 2020 archive capture
CARFAX for Dealers
- The App Store listing (publisher CARFAX, Inc.) states the app requires an existing CARFAX for Dealers business account login, so it cannot be evaluated or purchased as a standalone app without a separate commercial dealer contract already in place.
Pricing, plan by plan
Cars.com
$299/month- Basic$299/month
- Vehicle listings
- Marketplace visibility
- Basic lead management
- Standard$699/month
- Everything in Basic
- Advanced lead tools
- CRM integration
- Premium$1199/month
- Everything in Standard
- Priority placement
- Marketing support
CARFAX for Dealers
On request- Basic$undefined/month
- Vehicle history reports
- Inventory listings
- Dealer website badge
- Advantage$undefined/month
- Everything in Basic
- CARFAX Hot Listings
- Service retention tools
- Advantage Plus$undefined/month
- Everything in Advantage
- Snap report
- 1-owner leads
Which should you pick?
Choose Cars.com if
- You need vehicle listing.
- You work on Web, Mobile, App.
- You also want marketplace access.
Choose CARFAX for Dealers if
- You need vehicle history reports.
- You work on Web, Mobile, Api.
- You also want service history.
Questions people ask
- Is Cars.com or CARFAX for Dealers better?
- Neither clearly leads. Cars.com starts at $299/month and CARFAX for Dealers at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Cars.com or CARFAX for Dealers?
- Cars.com starts at $299/month and CARFAX for Dealers at On request.
- Does Cars.com or CARFAX for Dealers run on more platforms?
- Cars.com runs on Web, Mobile, App. CARFAX for Dealers runs on Web, Mobile, Api.
- What is Cars.com best used for?
- Cars.com is most often used for dealership management, service scheduling, inventory management, sales operations. Of those, dealership management and service scheduling are not what CARFAX for Dealers is typically brought in for.
- What can Cars.com do that CARFAX for Dealers cannot?
- Cars.com covers Vehicle listing, Marketplace access, Lead generation, Dealer profile. CARFAX for Dealers covers Vehicle history reports, Service history, Accident history, 1-Owner finder.