Terms of Use
Last updated 2026-06-11
By using the CarVitals website or browser extension, you agree to these terms. They're short; please actually read them.
What CarVitals is (and isn't)
CarVitals is an informational research tool. It aggregates and summarizes public data about vehicle models (recalls, owner complaints, crash tests, pricing history, and ownership-cost estimates) to help you research a used car. It is not:
- a vehicle inspection, or a substitute for one;
- a vehicle history report (it does not report accidents, title status, or odometer fraud for a specific car);
- financial, legal, or purchasing advice;
- a guarantee that any specific car is safe, reliable, or fairly priced.
Issue patterns describe what owners have publicly reported. They are patterns, not predictions about any individual car. Always have a used car independently inspected before buying.
Accuracy
We work hard to source our claims (that's why reports carry citations), but public data contains errors, estimates are estimates, and cars surprise everyone. The service is provided "as is", without warranties of any kind, express or implied, including accuracy, completeness, or fitness for a particular purpose. To the maximum extent permitted by law, CarVitals is not liable for any damages arising from use of the service, including purchase decisions made with it.
Affiliations
CarVitals is independent. It is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by NHTSA, CarMax, AutoTrader, Cars.com, or any vehicle manufacturer. Trademarks belong to their owners and are used only to identify the vehicles and platforms being discussed.
Acceptable use
- Don't scrape, bulk-download, or republish report content as your own.
- Don't use the service to mislead buyers or sellers.
- Don't attempt to disrupt or reverse-engineer the service's infrastructure.
Intellectual property
Report text, design, and code are © 2026 CarVitals. The underlying public data belongs to its sources (cited in each report) and remains public.
Changes and termination
We may update the service and these terms; the date above reflects the latest revision. Continued use after changes means acceptance. We may discontinue the service at any time; it's free, and we promise nothing beyond honesty while it runs.
Governing law
These terms are governed by the laws of the United States.