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CARFAX vs Bumper

CARFAX and Bumper both turn a VIN into a vehicle history report, but they sell it differently and draw on different records. Here’s a factual side-by-side, and where AutoCheck comes in.

By Tayron Bram

Updated October 2026 · 5 min read

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Key takeaways

  • CARFAX sells reports one car at a time. Bumper sells a membership that starts with a trial and continues until you cancel.
  • For a single car, paying per report avoids a recurring charge. Bumper says its plan gives access to 50 vehicle history reports a month.
  • If maintenance history matters, that points to CARFAX: Bumper’s report page doesn’t name service records.
  • The Department of Justice lists Bumper as an approved NMVTIS data provider for consumers, and says consumers can’t get NMVTIS reports from CARFAX or Experian.
  • If you start a Bumper trial, note when it ends, and don’t count on a refund: its terms say refunds are handled case by case.
On this page
  1. Two ways to pay for vehicle history
  2. Side by side
  3. Is Bumper as good as CARFAX?
  4. Before you start a membership
  5. Where AutoCheck fits: CARFAX vs Bumper vs AutoCheck
  6. Buying CARFAX or AutoCheck per report, for less

Two ways to pay for vehicle history

CARFAX sells reports per vehicle: one report, or a package of several from its order page. Bumper, run by Bumper, LLC of New York, sells a membership. Its home page describes a trial followed by a recurring membership that continues until you cancel; check bumper.com for the current price before you sign up.

That difference decides a lot. If you’re checking one or two cars, you pay for one or two reports at CARFAX. If you’re checking many cars a month, Bumper says its subscription gives access to 50 vehicle history reports per month.

Side by side

From each company’s own pages and the U.S. Department of Justice’s NMVTIS site. Plans and prices change; check before you buy.
CARFAXBumper
How you payPer report, or a package of severalMonthly membership, after a trial
Price$44.99 for one report on carfax.comShown on bumper.com
Reports includedThe ones you buy50 vehicle reports a month, Bumper says
What it says about its dataBillions of records from more than 151,000 sourcesNMVTIS, NHTSA, state motor vehicle agencies, accident records from 44 state agencies
Service recordsOil changes, tire rotations and other service history, when reportedNot listed among its report contents
NMVTIS title data for consumersNot offered to consumers, per the DOJOn the DOJ’s list of approved NMVTIS data providers
Vehicles coveredSold in the US and Canada, made since 1981US vehicles; its terms bar requests about vehicles outside the US

Is Bumper as good as CARFAX?

They aren’t the same product, so the honest answer depends on what you need to know about the car.

  • Service history. CARFAX lists oil changes, tire rotations, brake and transmission work and safety inspections among what its reports check for. Bumper’s report page doesn’t name service records. If maintenance history matters, that points to CARFAX.
  • Title records. The Department of Justice lists Bumper among approved NMVTIS data providers for consumers. It also says consumers can’t get NMVTIS reports from CARFAX or Experian. NMVTIS holds state title brands and junk, salvage and insurance records.
  • Accidents. CARFAX lists accidents reported to CARFAX, with damage severity and point of impact. Bumper’s terms say its accident data comes from 44 listed states and suggest checking other sources for the rest, and they ask you not to rely on Bumper alone to decide whether a car was in an accident.
  • Extras. Bumper lists market value, ownership costs, warranties, safety ratings and specs, with salvage records as an optional add-on.

Both companies say their data has limits. CARFAX says its reports are based only on information supplied to it. Bumper’s terms say its information isn’t necessarily accurate, complete or up to date. Neither replaces an inspection.

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Letters and numbers, no I, O or Q. It’s on the dashboard by the windshield, on the driver’s door frame, and on the title.

Before you start a membership

  • Read the price and billing period on the checkout page. Bumper’s terms say fees and billing are shown before you buy and are charged on a recurring basis.
  • Note when the trial ends. After it, the membership continues at the standard rate unless you cancel.
  • Know how to cancel. Bumper’s terms list account settings, phone, email and its contact form. Once cancelled, the membership doesn’t renew.
  • Don’t count on a refund. Bumper’s terms say refunds are handled case by case, and usually only one per subscription.

Where AutoCheck fits: CARFAX vs Bumper vs AutoCheck

AutoCheck is Experian’s report, sold per VIN like CARFAX. Experian says its data comes from motor vehicle departments, auctions, insurance companies and other sources, and every AutoCheck report has the AutoCheck Score: a number from 1 to 100, read against a range for similar cars. Because its sources include auctions, it’s a useful second report when a car went through dealer auctions. Our CARFAX vs AutoCheck guide goes through the difference.

Buying CARFAX or AutoCheck per report, for less

If you’d rather pay per car than per month, we sell both reports with no subscription: CARFAX for $8.99 and AutoCheck for $7.99. Each comes with an AI consultant that reads your reports, and if a report can’t be produced, its cost goes back to your account automatically. Smart VIN Check is independent and isn’t affiliated with CARFAX, Inc., Experian (AutoCheck), Copart, IAA or Bumper.

Questions

Is Bumper as good as CARFAX?

They hold different records. CARFAX reports list service history when it’s been reported; Bumper draws on NMVTIS, NHTSA and state records and sells a monthly plan. Which is more useful depends on whether you need maintenance history or many title checks a month.

CARFAX or Bumper for one car?

For a single car, a per-report purchase avoids a recurring charge. If you start a Bumper trial, note when it ends, because the membership continues at the standard rate unless you cancel.

CARFAX vs Bumper vs AutoCheck: which has auction records?

AutoCheck’s data includes auctions, according to Experian. For photos and damage recorded at Copart or IAAI sales, an auction report is the direct source. See Copart VIN report.

How do I cancel Bumper?

Bumper says you can cancel in your account settings or by contacting its support by phone, email or its contact form.

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About the author

Tayron Bram

Data Validation Officer

Tayron Bram is the Data Validation Officer at Smart VIN Check, with 41 years of experience in used-car sales, auto auctions and vehicle data. Tayron has checked thousands of vehicle history reports and worked with dealers importing cars from the US. At Smart VIN Check, Tayron checks that every fact in our guides matches its source, from state title rules to NMVTIS and NHTSA records, and goes back to those sources when they change. Before a guide is published, Tayron reads it the way a buyer would, looking for anything unclear, out of date or not backed by a source. Tayron also keeps the prices we quote from other sellers current, so the comparisons on our pages stay accurate.

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