CarFacts review 2026 — is $34 worth it?

What is CarFacts?

CarFacts is a vehicle history report service operated by Equifax, one of Australia's major credit reporting agencies. It has been around since the early 2000s, making it one of the longer-running vehicle check services in the Australian market. Equifax also operates CarHistory, a separate and more expensive product — the two are sometimes confused but offer different levels of detail.

A single CarFacts report costs $34. That positions it in the middle of the market — cheaper than CarHistory ($39.95) but significantly more expensive than newer services like RegoVerify ($4.99 to $14.99) or a direct PPSR search ($2).

What does a CarFacts report include?

A standard CarFacts report pulls data from several government and industry databases. Here is what you get for your $34:

• PPSR (encumbrance) check — shows whether the vehicle has any finance, loans, or security interests registered against it. This is the same data you would get from a $2 search on ppsr.gov.au.
• Stolen vehicle check — cross-references the vehicle against police stolen vehicle databases via NEVDIS.
• Write-off status — checks the Written-Off Vehicle Register (WOVR) to see if the vehicle has been declared a statutory or repairable write-off in any state.
• Basic vehicle details — make, model, year, body type, engine size, and colour as recorded in state transport authority databases.
• Registration status — whether the vehicle is currently registered and in which state or territory.

These are the core checks that every used car buyer should run before purchasing. CarFacts covers the fundamentals adequately. The question is whether $34 represents good value for this data — or whether you can get the same (and more) for less.

What is missing from a CarFacts report?

For $34, there are several data categories that CarFacts does not include. These gaps matter because they affect how much you know about a vehicle before buying:

• No market valuation — CarFacts does not include pricing data from Glass's Guide, RedBook, or any live market source. You cannot use it to check whether a seller's asking price is fair. For guidance on how valuations work, see our guide on how car valuations work in Australia.
• No safety recall data — the report does not check whether the vehicle has outstanding safety recalls from the manufacturer or Product Safety Australia. Given the scale of recalls like the Takata airbag recall, this is a notable omission.
• No claim or repair history — there is no information about whether the vehicle has been involved in insurance claims or had significant repairs. This data, when available, can reveal damage history that does not appear on the write-off register.
• No detailed odometer history — while CarHistory (the more expensive Equifax product) includes odometer readings, CarFacts does not provide this level of detail. This makes it harder to detect potential odometer tampering.

User experience and delivery

CarFacts has been operating for over two decades, and parts of the user experience reflect that history. The interface is functional but dated compared to newer services. Some points worth noting:

• Reports are delivered as PDFs, which is fine for record-keeping but less convenient than an interactive web-based report that you can navigate by section.
• The search process typically requires a VIN rather than a registration number. If you are browsing listings on Facebook Marketplace or Gumtree, you may not have the VIN until you contact the seller.
• Delivery is generally quick — minutes rather than hours — but some users have reported occasional delays. Modern services like RegoVerify generate reports instantly in-browser.
• There is no mobile-optimised experience. If you are checking a car at the seller's location on your phone, a PDF report is harder to navigate quickly.

None of these are dealbreakers, but they add friction — especially when you are standing in someone's driveway trying to make a decision.

How CarFacts compares to alternatives

The Australian vehicle history check market has more options than most buyers realise. Here is how CarFacts stacks up against the main alternatives:

• PPSR direct ($2) — the cheapest option, but only covers finance and encumbrances. No stolen, write-off, or recall data. Good enough if you already know the car's history and just need the PPSR check.
• RegoVerify Quick Check ($4.99) — includes PPSR, stolen vehicle, write-off data, and claim history flags. Covers the same core checks as CarFacts for 85% less. Searchable by rego number.
• RevsCheck ($7.90) — a PPSR-only check. Does not include stolen vehicle data, write-off data, or valuations. See our RevsCheck review for details.
• RegoVerify Full Report ($14.99) — everything in the Quick Check plus Glass's Guide valuation, live market valuation, full claim and repair history, and safety recalls. More data than CarFacts at less than half the price.
• CarHistory ($39.95) — Equifax's premium product. Includes everything CarFacts offers plus odometer readings and more detailed specs. See our CarHistory review for a full breakdown.

For a comprehensive side-by-side comparison of all options, see our guide to the best vehicle history checks in Australia.

What CarFacts does well

It is worth acknowledging where CarFacts delivers. A fair review should note what works, not just what is missing:

• Established data sources — Equifax has direct relationships with NEVDIS and state transport authorities. The PPSR, stolen, and write-off data is sourced from the same authoritative databases that all reputable providers use.
• Brand recognition — Equifax is a known quantity. Some buyers feel more comfortable using a service from a large, established company. This is especially true for buyers making their first used vehicle purchase.
• Track record — CarFacts has been running for over 20 years. It is a proven product that delivers what it promises. The data is reliable and the reports are straightforward to read.

The issue with CarFacts is not quality — it is value. The same underlying data is available from other providers at significantly lower price points, and some of those providers include additional data that CarFacts does not.

Who should use CarFacts?

CarFacts still makes sense in a few specific situations:

• You already have a CarFacts account or subscription through your employer or a dealer network.
• You specifically want an Equifax-branded report for professional or compliance reasons.
• You are buying a single vehicle, price is not a major concern, and you do not need valuations or recall data.

For most private buyers checking one or two cars before purchase, there are better options available. A RegoVerify Full Report at $14.99 includes everything CarFacts offers — plus market valuations, safety recalls, and claim history — for less than half the price. If you only need the basics, the $4.99 Quick Check covers PPSR, stolen, and write-off data at a fraction of the cost.

The bottom line

CarFacts is a reliable vehicle history report from a trusted provider. The data is accurate, the service has a long track record, and it covers the essential checks — PPSR, stolen, and write-off. But at $34, it is overpriced for what you get. The lack of market valuations, safety recalls, and claim history means you are paying a premium for a partial picture. In 2026, the Australian market has more affordable options that deliver the same core data with additional layers of insight.