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.

The auction has announced the vehicle as being in a Salvage condition based on 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.

A cloned vehicle is a car that has had its VIN modified or tampered to match the VIN of another vehicle.

This is typically done to mask the VIN of a stolen vehicle. A cloned vehicle that has had its VIN changed can be seized by police. As CARFAX Canada is a VIN reporting service, it will report all available information on the VIN, including any information available on the cloned VIN.

If you have a CARFAX Canada Vehicle History Report with registration (and/or title), service, damage history (typically from the U.S.) that you believe to be incorrect, please see: I believe information on my CARFAX Canada Vehicle History Report is inaccurate. What do I do?

If your VIN is confirmed to have been cloned, a cloned VIN alert will be added to the vehicle’s history. In the event your VIN has been cloned, there are steps the owner must take to have the cloned VIN’s title/registration records revoked/canceled by the issuing state DMV.

A collision refers to an incident involving impact with an object or another vehicle.

A single vehicle accident – such as driving into a ditch – could be classified as a “collision” by sources such as law enforcement agencies, first responders, towing companies, estimate and repair facilities and/or insurance companies.

The term “collision” may appear on a report when a damage event reported to us by participating sources includes the term collision.

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.

Insurance claim classification used to refer to claims related to vehicle repair costs or replacement of the vehicle.

Typically, this claim classification excludes damage resulting from a collision on a public road, fire, hail/windstorm, vandalism or theft incident.

This claim classification is usually applied when vehicle incurs damages in a parking lot incident, damages while parked, etc. though may also be used in the event a 43r policy endorsement was activated by the insured/owner of the vehicle, resulting in a Total Loss claim being filed by the insurance company.

For more information, please also see:

• Total loss
• What is a 43R claim?
• Why does the estimate show “total loss,” but the vehicle was neither branded as “salvage” or “rebuilt?”

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.

The estimate detail displays the primary point of impact on the vehicle at the time of the incident. 

It is possible that there were other damages elsewhere on the vehicle.

We do not receive, nor can we obtain/share detailed parts listed associated with these records.

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.

Insurance carriers have different ways of classifying damage to vehicles.

This classification deals with numerous types of damage that are not specifically coded by the insurer including collision involving an animal, vandalism, damage by weather, tree falling on the vehicle and others.

Please note we are not able to obtain nor provide further details from our sources pertaining to the claim.

For more information on insurance claims, please see: Insurance Claim

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.

This is an insurance term used by some companies to describe a collision or other damage claim where the claim amount was less than the full market value of the vehicle.

This means that the vehicle sustained damage in multiple places. This term is commonly used to describe hail damage in vehicle repair estimate records.

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.

Estimate facilities, like insurance companies and other businesses have a limited number of classifications they can select from when completing their documentation. 

Rollover would be listed as the point of impact on the estimate sheets when:

• Vehicle was confirmed to have rolled over
• The roof of the vehicle has been damaged, though the vehicle has not rolled over
  • for example: if a tree branch fell on the roof of a vehicle

If you believe that an estimate facility has recorded rollover incorrectly, please return to support.carfax.ca and click “Request a Review.” Please include:

• VIN
• Vehicle History Report number (optional)
• Phone number
• License plate number
• If available, any documentation from the estimate/repair facility