TrulyCar vs Bumper
One-time $16.99 reports against a subscription plan.
Bumper sells vehicle history access as a subscription; their own site says plans start at $27.99 per month. TrulyCar sells reports the other way: one all-inclusive document for $16.99, or packs that bring the per-report price to $7.90, with no recurring charge and nothing to cancel. Which model wins depends on how many cars you check and how much you value not remembering to cancel.
Side by side
- Pricing model
- TrulyCarOne-time purchase per report or packBumperSubscription; plans start at $27.99 per month, per their site
- Single report
- TrulyCar$16.99, yours permanentlyBumperAccess tied to an active subscription; see their terms
- Anything to cancel
- TrulyCarNoBumperYes, the subscription
- Multi-vehicle checking
- TrulyCarPacks: $29.99/3, $44.99/5, $79.00/10BumperIncluded while subscribed; see their plan limits
- Title & brand checks
- TrulyCarNMVTIS salvage, junk, and total-loss recordsBumperCompare sample reports
- Damage events with auction photos
- TrulyCarYes, when images exist for the VINBumperCompare sample reports
- Odometer rollback detection
- TrulyCarYes, full chronologyBumperCompare sample reports
- Free VIN decode & plate lookup
- TrulyCarYes, before you pay anythingBumperSee their site
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 the buyer checking a handful of specific cars who wants to pay once, keep the PDF, and be done. It also fits dealers who prefer per-VIN costs on the books instead of a monthly line item.
Choose Bumper when
Bumper can make sense for someone browsing constantly over a long stretch, where a monthly plan amortizes across many lookups; do that math against their current plan terms on their site.
Checking four cars this month? TrulyCar's 5-pack costs $44.99 once, and the leftover credit waits for the next car. A $27.99-per-month plan costs more than the 3-pack every single month it stays active, and subscriptions have a way of outliving the car search.
TrulyCar vs Bumper: common questions
Is TrulyCar a one-time payment unlike Bumper?
Yes. Every TrulyCar purchase is a one-time payment: $16.99 for a single report or a pack of credits that never expire. Bumper's own site describes plans starting at $27.99 per month.
Do TrulyCar credits expire when I stop shopping?
No. Pack credits stay on your account with no clock running. There is no plan to pause or cancel.
How does Bumper compare with CARFAX?
We put all three in one table, including the rows where TrulyCar says no, at /vs/carfax-vs-bumper.
Which is cheaper for checking one car?
One TrulyCar report is $16.99 once. Compare that with the cost and cancellation step of any monthly plan, using the current price on the provider's site.
Do both Bumper and TrulyCar show accident damage?
Both report damage records. What differs is the detail behind each event: TrulyCar attaches salvage auction photos when images exist for the VIN, so you can judge the damage yourself instead of reading a date and a category. Compare a sample report from each on the same car.
Do all history reports show the same records?
No. Each provider licenses different data feeds, and a car with an out-of-state accident can look cleaner in one report than in another. On an expensive purchase, pulling two reports from two providers costs less than one bad transmission.
Should I buy a CARFAX or AutoCheck report instead?
If the seller already has one, read it. If you are paying yourself and comparing several cars, single reports from the biggest names tend to run around $45, and that adds up quickly across a shortlist.
Does a history report replace a mechanic's inspection?
No. A report shows what was recorded: titles, odometer readings, damage, recalls. It cannot hear a wheel bearing or find an oil leak. Screen the car with a report first, then pay a mechanic to inspect the one you intend to buy.
Check any vehicle before you buy it
The decode is free and takes seconds. The full report is one payment, no subscription.
Run a free VIN check