Free Used Car Safety and Reliability Ratings

Take Advantage of No Cost Pre Owned Vehicle Information

Aug 21, 2009 Felicia A. Williams

Anyone in the market for a used car understands the importance of finding out as much about the vehicle's history to ensure the purchase of a reliable car.

Many car buyers understand the importance of obtaining a CARFAX history report on a vehicle prior to purchase, however, a CARFAX report is only necessary when the final decision is about to be made. Before potential car buyers get to the decision phase, there are preliminary phases they must go through first.

While in the preliminary shopping phase, car buyers are faced with a plethora of purchase options. Most shoppers usually have a good idea of the budgetary limitations and whether or not to buy a private passenger car or a sports utility vehicle, but that doesn't narrow the playing field very much. Whether the consumer decides to go with a used car or pre-owned sports utility vehicle, the choices are many.

Pre Owned Vehicle Reputation

A used car's reputation is one way to help narrow the playing field. Anyone old enough to have lived through or had owned a Ford Pinto can vouch for how a car's reputation can affect the way shoppers view a car's reliability. The Ford Pinto won the dubious honor of being included in Time.com's list of the Worst 50 Cars of All Time. Hardly a vehicle buyers would flock to.

CARFAX Free Safety and Reliability Ratings

Consumers can now avoid purchasing car models with a known history of safety defects and poor reliability. By visiting the CARFAX Safety and Reliability service, car buyers can narrow their used car selection.

The CARFAX service offers safety and reliability ratings for vehicles manufactured from 1991 to current year. The benefit of this service is that car buyers can narrow the pre owned auto playing field. For example, if Suzie happens to browse the morning paper and finds a seemingly great deal on a particular car, she can access the CARFAX safety and reliability ratings to see if that model car has any known safety or reliability problems.

She doesn't have to wait until she obtains the vehicle identification number before she starts her preliminary auto research. Suzie can go to the CARFAX site, select the year, make and model of the car to find out a host of information to help to her narrow her car selection choices.

Free Used Car Reliability Information

Once a car buyer locates the vehicle in CARFAX's safety and reliability service, the buyer will gain access to the following reports specific to the auto:

Safety reports from:

• National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Crash Test Results
• Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) Crash Test Results
• IIHS Low Speed Damage Repair
• Highway Loss Data Institute (HLDI) Injury, Collision and Theft Indicators
• NHTSA Safety Recalls

Reliability reports from:

• J.D. Power and Associate Ratings
• Identifix Reliability Ratings
• Intellichoice Cost of Ownership & Value Rating
• Original Manufacturer Warranty
• New Car Test Drive Automotive Review
• Vehicle Awards

The vehicle reports are extensive and potential car buyers should allow ample time to review all of the information provided. Depending on the data found in the reports, the consumer can either take it to the next step or go back to the drawing board to find a different car.

The copyright of the article Free Used Car Safety and Reliability Ratings in Consumer Education is owned by Felicia A. Williams. Permission to republish Free Used Car Safety and Reliability Ratings in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

CARFAX Reliability and Safety Report