AutoCheck vs TrulyCar: which VIN check to buy

Experian's scored report against a flat $16.99 report with auction photos and a plain-English verdict.

AutoCheck is Experian's vehicle history report. Dealers and auctions use it widely, and its best-known feature is the AutoCheck Score, which rates a car against similar vehicles of the same year and class. Most people searching for a free AutoCheck check want to know whether a car has a problem before they pay anyone. This page compares what each report gives you, says where to check AutoCheck's own site instead of trusting ours, and lists the free checks that do exist.

Side by side

What you get	TrulyCar	AutoCheck
Single report price	$16.99 once; new buyers get the first report 30% off	Published on their site, with single reports and multi-vehicle bundles
Free option	Free VIN decode and plate lookup before you pay anything	Some dealer and marketplace listings include one at no charge; otherwise paid
Scoring	A 0 to 100 health score built from this car's own records, plus a Buy, Negotiate, or Walk Away read	The AutoCheck Score, which compares the car with similar vehicles
Title & brand records	NMVTIS title events by state with dates and odometer readings, plus salvage, junk, and total-loss brands	Compare sample reports
Auction records & photos	Salvage auction photo sets when the car went through an auction lane	Known for auction records; compare sample reports for photos
Odometer rollback check	Yes, full chronology of reported readings	Compare sample reports
Open recalls (NHTSA)	Included	See their site
Market value by condition	Included	See their site
Subscription required	No, ever	See their current terms

Competitor details change; verify current pricing and features on their site before deciding.

See the three-way comparison: CARFAX vs Bumper vs TrulyCar →

Who each one suits

Choose TrulyCar when

TrulyCar fits a buyer checking one to five specific cars who wants the auction photos, the odometer trail, and a plain-English verdict at a flat price, with nothing to cancel.

Choose AutoCheck when

AutoCheck fits auction-heavy buyers comparing many cars by score, and anyone whose listing already includes one free. If a lender or auction asks for it by name, that settles it.

Searches for a free AutoCheck check run high because most buyers want the answer before paying. Here is what is actually free. The NICB's VINCheck reports theft and insurance total-loss records from participating insurers, a few lookups a day. NHTSA's recall lookup shows open safety recalls. TrulyCar's VIN decode confirms the year, make, model, engine, and assembly plant with no account. None of them shows title events across states, the odometer history, or auction photos; that part comes from licensed databases, and every provider charges for it. A TrulyCar report is $16.99, the first one is 30% off for new buyers, and packs bring the price to $7.90 per VIN with no subscription.

Run a free VIN check · report $16.99

TrulyCar vs AutoCheck: common questions

Can I get an AutoCheck report for free?

Sometimes. Some dealer and marketplace listings include an AutoCheck report at no charge, so check the listing first. Otherwise it is a paid report; see their site for current prices. Without a listing, the free checks are the NICB's VINCheck for theft and total loss, NHTSA's recall lookup, and TrulyCar's free VIN decode.

What is the AutoCheck Score?

It is Experian's score comparing a vehicle's history with similar vehicles of the same year and class. TrulyCar's health score works differently: it comes only from the records on this car, and the report shows the records behind it.

AutoCheck vs CARFAX: which is better?

Both are paid reports from established companies. CARFAX is best known for its dealer network and service records, AutoCheck for auction records and its score. Pulling a sample from each on the same VIN is the honest test. Our CARFAX alternatives page at /vs/carfax puts the wider field side by side.

Is TrulyCar cheaper than AutoCheck?

TrulyCar is $16.99 for one all-inclusive report, 30% off for a first-time buyer, and less per report in packs. Check AutoCheck's site for its current price.

Does TrulyCar use the same data as AutoCheck?

TrulyCar reports draw on official government and industry records, including NMVTIS title data and NHTSA specification and recall data. We do not guess which sources another provider licenses; comparing two sample reports on the same VIN is the honest test.

Check any vehicle before you buy it

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