Glossary

Abandoned (registration status)

Vehicle was found deserted and the owner could not be located, or there was no jurisdictional record of the vehicle.


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Auction announced as accident repair

A wholesale auto auction has reported a vehicle as an "accident repair" because the auction has confirmed repairs were completed.


Typically, a CARFAX Canada Vehicle History Report with this type of record will also have another damage record - such as police reported accident, estimate and/or claim - noting previous damages to the vehicle.


The announcement would be reflective of this prior damage history but may also have been made based solely on a disclosure made by the seller and/or as the result of an inspection of the vehicle completed by the auction.


Please note we are unable to obtain additional information from our sources related to these announcements.


Before you buy a used car, we recommend that you get a CARFAX Canada Vehicle History Report, take a thorough test drive and have the vehicle inspected by a qualified mechanic and/or auto technician to make sure the vehicle is functioning properly.


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Auction announced as fleet/lease

A wholesale auto auction has reported the vehicle as a fleet or leased vehicle. An example of a fleet vehicle is a vehicle lent out to a business for temporary use. 


We are not able to obtain details about the company that used the vehicle previously. 


Before you buy a used car, we recommend that you get a CARFAX Canada Vehicle History Report, take a thorough test drive and have the vehicle inspected by a qualified mechanic or auto technician to make sure the vehicle is functioning properly. 


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Auction announced as flood damage

A wholesale auto auction has reported that the vehicle was involved in a flood or may have endured water damage.


Before you buy a used car, we recommend that you get a CARFAX Canada Vehicle History Report, take a thorough test drive and have the vehicle inspected by a qualified mechanic or auto technician to make sure the vehicle is functioning properly. We would also recommend speaking with your Provincial vehicle registration authority to further ensure vehicle can be registered with and operated in your province.


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Auction announced as frame or structural damage

A wholesale auto auction has reported that the vehicle has sustained frame damage, which can weaken the structure of the vehicle and may result in the vehicle being negatively branded (i.e. Salvage, Rebuilt) by a provincial vehicle registration authority if it has not been already. 


This may also be reported if the auction has confirmed if:


  • Vehicle was previously used by law enforcement
  • A snowplow was attached to the frame
  • A trailer hitch was attached to the frame
  • Other components were attached to the frame
  • There were signs of excessive rust/corrosion
  • Signs of non-compromising damage to the frame



We are unable to obtain additional information to these announcements, such as the exact reason the auction reported frame and/or structural damage.


Modifications, such as these, are unlikely to result in vehicle’s structural and/or mechanical integrity being weakened, meaning it is unlikely a vehicle would be negatively branded by a Provincial vehicle registration authority.


Before you buy a used car, we recommend that you get a CARFAX Canada Vehicle History Report, take a thorough test drive and have the vehicle inspected by a qualified mechanic or auto technician to make sure the vehicle is functioning properly. We would also recommend speaking with your Provincial vehicle registration authority to further ensure vehicle can be registered with and operated in your province.


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Auction announced as major damage/repairs

A wholesale auto auction has reported the vehicle as having major damage based on the seller's disclosure and/or an inspection of the vehicle.


Please note we are unable to obtain additional information from our sources related to these announcements.


Before you buy a used car, we recommend that you get a CARFAX Canada Vehicle History Report, take a thorough test drive and have the vehicle inspected by a qualified mechanic or auto technician to make sure the vehicle is functioning properly. We would also recommend speaking with your provincial vehicle registration authority to further ensure vehicle can be registered with and operated in your province.


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Auction announcement

The vehicle was sold at an auction and they announced a specific detail about the vehicle. We are partnered with certain auctions and display what they announce during the sale of the vehicle.


For example, ”auction announcement - accident repair” could mean this vehicle has been damaged previously but has since had repairs completed.


Please note we are unable to obtain additional information from our sources related to these announcements.


Before you buy a used car, we recommend that you get a CARFAX Canada Vehicle History Report, take a thorough test drive and have the vehicle inspected by a qualified mechanic or auto technician to make sure the vehicle is functioning properly. We would also recommend speaking with your provincial vehicle registration authority to further ensure vehicle can be registered with and operated in your province.


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Auction announcement - salvage

The auction has announced the vehicle as being in a salvage condition - based on the seller's disclosure and/or the most recently reported brand/title for the vehicle.


Before you buy a used car, we recommend that you get a CARFAX Canada Vehicle History Report, take a thorough test drive and have the vehicle inspected by a qualified mechanic or auto technician to make sure the vehicle is functioning properly. We would also recommend speaking with your provincial vehicle registration authority to further ensure vehicle can be registered with and operated in your province.


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Auction announcement - Title Branded

A wholesale auto auction selling this vehicle has announced the vehicle as having a negative brand at the time of sale or previously in its history. An example of a “Title Brand” would be Salvage, Rebuilt and/or Non-Repairable.


Please note we are unable to obtain additional information from our sources related to these announcements.


For more information on branding, please see: Brand


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Brand

A vehicle’s brand (or status) is determined by an insurance company and/or within provincial guidelines and applied by a provincial vehicle registration authority to note the vehicle’s structural and/or mechanical integrity status – and therefore its ability to be registered and/or operated within the province.


Branding is applied by the province each time the vehicle is registered. Along with a CARFAX Canada Vehicle History Report, we also recommend having the vehicle inspected by a qualified mechanic/auto body professional, checking the vehicle’s most recent provincially issued registration document and/or contacting the province to further verify the vehicle’s current brand and to ensure a negative brand is not applicable at the time of the next registration.


CARFAX Canada reports reflect the vehicle’s past and present brand/status as reported to us by participating data partners at the time the report was ordered. The vehicle’s brand/status will be reported in the following areas on the report:


  • Last Registered In:
  • Registration
  • Detailed History
  • Other Damages



The brand/status language appearing on CARFAX Canada reports may differ slightly from brands/statuses used by provincial vehicle registration authorities as each province has their own terminology/criteria for brand/status. For more information on these variances, please contact your Provincial Registration Authority.


Before you buy a used car, we recommend that you get a CARFAX Canada Vehicle History Report, take a thorough test drive and have the vehicle inspected by a qualified mechanic or auto technician to make sure the vehicle is functioning properly. We would also recommend speaking with your provincial vehicle registration authority to further ensure vehicle can be registered with and operated in your province.


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