Zilocar vs Carfax — Price, Data and the Renewal Terms.
Zilocar's single report costs $39.95, a little under Carfax's. The real difference is its membership: $29.50 for the first month, $59.75 a month after that, renewed automatically with no reminder. Here is how the two compare on price, on what the reports contain, and on the federal title record.
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Quick Answer
- Is Zilocar cheaper than Carfax?
- For one car, slightly: Zilocar's single report is $39.95 against about $44.99 for Carfax. Its membership works out cheaper per report only if you use most of the 20 reports a month; it costs $59.75 a month after the first.
- Does the Zilocar membership renew automatically?
- Yes. Zilocar's FAQ says memberships renew every month at the regular rate after the introductory price, and that it does not send reminders before a renewal. Cancel in your dashboard before the next billing date.
- Which one should I buy?
- For one or two cars, a single report. For many cars in a month, compare per-report cost. If you only want the history on a car or two, our full report is $14.99 with no plan to cancel.
The Zilocar membership, in five steps
Taken from Zilocar's own FAQ. None of it is hidden, but it is spread across several answers, so here it is in order.
- 1You join at the introductory priceZilocar's Premium Membership starts at $29.50 for the first month. The checkout shows the introductory and renewal prices, and completing it means accepting them.
- 2You get 20 reports a monthThe plan includes 20 reports a month and all premium features. Each report stays valid for 3 months, then it expires.
- 3The plan renews at the regular rateAfter the first cycle, the membership renews automatically every month at $59.75, the non-discounted price.
- 4No reminder arrives firstZilocar's FAQ says it does not send advance billing reminders or notifications before renewal. The next billing date is only in your dashboard.
- 5Cancelling runs to the end of the periodCancel under Billing & Plans in the dashboard, or by email. The plan stays active until the end of the current period and is not charged again.
Zilocar vs Carfax at a Glance
Zilocar's column is read from its own FAQ; Carfax's from its company and help pages. Where a vendor does not say, we say so.
| Zilocar | Carfax | |
|---|---|---|
| Single report | $39.95 | About $44.99 |
| Subscription | $29.50 first month, then $59.75/month | None |
| Reports on the plan | 20 a month | One per purchase |
| Renewal reminder | None sent, per its FAQ | No plan to renew |
| Report validity | 3 months, then it expires | Not stated on the pages we read |
| Vehicles outside the US | US history only | Uses Canadian provincial sources too |
| Accident data | Up to 38 states, per its FAQ | 151,000+ sources incl. police and fire departments |
| Sells consumers NMVTIS reports | Not on the DOJ's approved list | No: DOJ lists Carfax as dealer-only |
| Guarantee | None described in its FAQ | Buyback Guarantee for missed title brands |
What Each Costs for the Cars You Will Actually Check
The headline prices hide the real question, which is how many cars you will look at. For one car, Zilocar's $39.95 single report is a little cheaper than Carfax. For three, the singles add up to $119.85 and $134.97 respectively.
The membership only wins if you use it. At $59.75 for 20 reports, a month in which you run every report works out to about $2.99 a report. A month in which you run two costs the same $59.75. Left running for a year without cancelling, the plan comes to $686.75.
The Renewal Terms to Read Before Checkout
Among the user posts ranking for “zilocar vs carfax” are billing and refund complaints. Zilocar's FAQ is candid about how the membership works, and it is worth reading before you choose the plan rather than the single report.
Zilocar also says the checkout displays the plan, the introductory and renewal prices and the subscription terms, and that completing the purchase means accepting them. In other words, if you only need one report, choose the Premium Single Report at checkout, not the membership.
If you do join, put the next billing date in your calendar the day you sign up. Cancelling keeps the plan active to the end of the paid period, so there is no cost to cancelling early.
Three lines from the FAQ
- The first month is discounted. $29.50 is the introductory price; every month after is $59.75.
- Renewal is automatic. The membership renews each month at the regular rate unless you cancel before the billing date.
- There is no warning. The FAQ states that Zilocar sends no advance billing reminder before a renewal.
One Car, One Price, Nothing to Cancel
Enter the VIN for a free preview of the records on file. The full report is $14.99, paid once.
What Each Report Says It Contains
In each company's own words. Neither list promises that every record exists for every car; both say a report shows only what was reported.
Zilocar
- Ownership history
- Odometer check
- Open recall check
- Junk, salvage and insurance records
- Title history and title brands
- Stolen vehicle check
- Vehicle damages
- Sales history and auction price range
- Valuation and ownership cost
Accident and incident data covers up to 38 states, Zilocar says, so coverage may be incomplete for history outside them.
Carfax
- Title information, such as salvage or junk
- Flood damage
- Whether the car was a total loss
- Odometer readings
- Lemon history
- Number of owners
- State emissions inspections
- Maintenance work
- Accident and damage details
Carfax lists more than 151,000 data sources, including US and Canadian agencies, auctions, and police and fire departments.
NMVTIS: Who Can Sell You the Federal Title Record
The US Department of Justice runs the National Motor Vehicle Title Information System and publishes the list of companies approved to sell its reports. On our last read of that list, 2026-09-12, Zilocar was not on it.
Carfax is on a different line of the same page. The DOJ says consumers cannot receive NMVTIS reports from Carfax, which supplies them to dealerships only. Carfax builds its own reports from its own sources instead.
None of this means a report without NMVTIS approval is useless: both companies describe title and brand records drawn from other sources. It means neither one sells you the federal NMVTIS report itself.
In the DOJ's words
“Consumers CANNOT receive NMVTIS Vehicle History Reports from Carfax, DMVDesk, or Experian; these entities provide information only to car dealerships.”
Where CarCheckerVIN Fits
If the question behind “Zilocar vs Carfax” is how to check a car without paying $44.99 or signing up for a plan, there is a third answer. Our full report is $14.99, paid once, after a free preview that shows which records are on file.
It lists title brands, the junk and salvage records reported to NMVTIS with who reported them, insurance total-loss records, odometer readings, and auction history with photos where a car went through auction. It does not include police or repair-shop accident entries; for those, a Carfax report is the one to buy.
Checking several cars? A 3-pack is $35.99 and a 10-pack works out to $9.00 a report, with credits usable for 12 months and no monthly charge.
Three cars, three ways
- Zilocar singles$119.85
- Carfax singles$134.97
- Our 3-pack$35.99
Related Comparisons and Guides
This page compares Zilocar and Carfax. These compare the other providers and explain the records behind them.
Where These Facts Come From
Zilocar's prices and terms come from its own FAQ; Carfax's description from its company and help pages; NMVTIS approval from the Department of Justice list.
Zilocar's prices were read on 26 September 2026. The Carfax price is the single-report price quoted by other providers when we last checked, because Carfax's site does not respond to automated reads. Prices change without notice. CarCheckerVIN is not affiliated with Zilocar or Carfax.
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Zilocar vs Carfax — Frequently Asked Questions
Prices, renewals, NMVTIS and what each report covers.
Is Zilocar cheaper than Carfax?+
For a single report, a little: Zilocar charges $39.95 and Carfax about $44.99. Zilocar's Premium Membership costs $29.50 for the first month and $59.75 a month after that for 20 reports, about $2.99 a report if you use every one. It is only cheaper per report if you check many cars each month.
Does Zilocar charge a monthly subscription?+
Only if you choose the Premium Membership. The Premium Single Report is a one-time $39.95 purchase with no subscription. The membership renews automatically every month at $59.75 after the introductory month.
How do I cancel a Zilocar membership?+
Zilocar's FAQ says to log in, open the dashboard, go to Billing & Plans and click Cancel Subscription, or to email its support team. The plan stays active until the end of the current billing period and is not charged again.
Will Zilocar remind me before it charges me again?+
No. Zilocar's FAQ says it does not send advance billing reminders or notifications before renewal, and recommends checking the next billing date in your dashboard.
Is Zilocar an approved NMVTIS provider?+
Zilocar is not among the providers the US Department of Justice lists as approved to sell NMVTIS reports to consumers, as of our last read of that list on 2026-09-12. Neither is Carfax: the DOJ says consumers cannot receive NMVTIS reports from Carfax, which supplies them to dealerships only.
Does Zilocar work on cars from outside the US?+
Zilocar says its reports are based on US data. A car with some US history may still return records, but a vehicle with no US history, such as one used only in Canada, returns no data.
How long is a Zilocar report valid?+
Zilocar's FAQ says a report is valid for 3 months from the date it was generated, after which it expires. It suggests saving a PDF or printing a copy to keep it.
Is there a cheaper option without a subscription?+
Yes. Our full report is $14.99 with no subscription, and a 3-pack is $35.99, or $9.00 a report in a 10-pack. Pack credits stay usable for 12 months. There is nothing to cancel.
Check a Car Without a Subscription
Enter any 17-character VIN for a free preview. The full report is $14.99, paid once, with title brands, NMVTIS salvage records, total-loss records and auction history.
CarCheckerVIN is an independent vehicle-history service and is not affiliated with Zilocar or Carfax. Both are trademarks of their respective owners and are referenced here for comparison only. Competitor terms are summarised from their published pages; check the current version before you buy.
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