Carfax Helps Consumers in the United States and Canada Avoid Odometer Fraud; Seven Million Records from British Columbia Will Help Consumers Detect Odometer Fraud

    FAIRFAX, Va.--May 14, 2001--Carfax, the leading provider of vehicle history information, announces the addition of more than seven million inspection records from British Columbia to its database of over 1.4 billion unique vehicle records.
    The British Columbia inspection and inspection repair records, going back to 1992, include odometer readings, which will reveal odometer discrepancies and possible fraud. "Fraud is a particular concern along country, state and province borders and the simplest way to detect that fraud is to include the odometer readings in both miles and kilometers," explains Scott Fredericks, Vice President of Marketing for Carfax.
    Carfax, in an effort to protect used car buyers, is constantly expanding their database with the most reliable and current vehicle data available. "Knowing a vehicle's history empowers the purchaser--benefiting both private consumers and dealers purchasing vehicles," says Fredericks. "In addition to alerting consumers to potential odometer fraud, a complete Carfax Vehicle History Report provides information such as usage history, flood damage, accident, or salvage title data to help consumers avoid potentially problematic vehicles."
    Recently Carfax heard from Ralph Vanderlaan of Toronto, Ontario. He wrote Carfax that he'd put $500 down toward the purchase of a 1987 Camera containing a window sign that stated it was a one-owner car with only 59,000 miles (94,950 km) being sold by the original owner. "I thought this was a good deal," says Vanderlaan, until he did some further research on the car. "I came across your home page, paid the sign up fee and found out through the Carfax report that the car actually had 159,000 miles (255,885 km)." Vanderlaan was luckier than some fraud victims, he asked for and received his deposit back, and he says that Carfax saved him $2,995.

    About Carfax, Inc.

    Founded in 1984, Carfax pioneered the concept of the vehicle history report - the instant background check on any used car. Carfax Vehicle History Reports can confirm a clean title history or identify serious problems with any used car, including salvage history, odometer fraud, flood damage and more. Carfax helps millions of consumers and thousands of car dealers avoid buying used cars with costly hidden problems. Using the 17-character Vehicle ID Number (VIN), used car buyers can access over 1.4 billion unique vehicle history records from hundreds of different sources in the Carfax nationwide database at www.Carfax.com. Every Carfax Report that confirms a clean title history is backed by the $5,000 US Clean Title History Guarantee. Carfax, Inc., based in Fairfax, Virginia, is a wholly owned subsidiary of the R.L. Polk & Co.

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