Does Hail Damage Show Up on CARFAX?
If we say hail damage can show up on a CARFAX report, the answer would be yes, but that's not always the case. It depends on whether the damage was reported to insurance or repaired by a shop that reports to CARFAX.
If a car has been through a hailstorm and the repairs were claimed through insurance or officially recorded, you'll see it listed on the report. However, if the owner paid for repairs out of pocket or didn't fix the damage, it might not appear.
That's why we say that checking a CARFAX report is essential when shopping for a used car, especially in areas prone to hail. It helps you spot hidden damage, understand a vehicle's history, and make a confident buying decision.
Keep reading to explore more!
What Is CARFAX? And How Does CARFAX Record Hail Damage?
It's really necessary to know how CARFAX works. CARFAX compiles information from:
-Insurance companies
-Auto auctions
-Repair and body shops
-Contractors and service centers
-State DMV and title databases
CARFAX then organizes this data into categories like: 1.Title and ownership history
2.Reported accidents or damage events
3.Service and maintenance history
4.Insurance or claims records
However, CARFAX only displays what gets reported. If insurance does not contain a hail damage incident, then it may never occur on the CARFAX report at all. Check out cheap carfax report tool, which helps you get a carfax report at affordable price.
To know more about how different kinds of issues are classified, you can also read our guide, CARFAX Functional Damage, which guides you on how functional damage is recorded in CARFAX reports.
When Hail Damage Appears on CARFAX
A few common scenarios where hail damage will occur in a Hail Damage CARFAX report:
1.Insurance Claim: Consider the auto owner files an insurance claim for hail damage, which becomes part of the database history of the national vehicle. CARFAX receives this data and flags it as a "damage event" or "hail-related claim."
This is the most common way hail damage appears on a CARFAX hail report.
2.Loss of Title or Salvage: For example, if the insurance company determines in your car because of critical hail damage a "salvage" or "rebuilt" title is issued. This automatically appears in a CARFAX report because CARFAX drags title data straight from state DMVs.
3.Repairing or Contractor Reporting: Absolute repair shops, contractors report damage or restoration details to CARFAX. But, if a hail damage repair is present in their system, it may appear as "lower," "medium," or "critical" damage in the vehicle's history.
