Buying a used Ford just got a little more transparent with the announcement that FordDirect has added Experian vehicle history reports to Ford and Lincoln Mercury DealerConnection Websites. About 3,500 dealer websites provided through Experian's DealerConnection service will now feature Experian Automotive's AutoCheck vehicle history reports.
Shoppers on FordDirect.com and DealerConnection websites can now access AutoCheck vehicle history reports directly through used-vehicle listings and see whether a vehicle has had a reported accident, odometer issues, title brands, frame-damage announcements or other important information that will help them make a confident used-vehicle purchase. DealerConnection Websites average 2.5 million monthly unique visitors and drive more than 55,000 monthly leads for Ford and Lincoln Mercury dealers, according to a press release from Experian.
Under this agreement, free vehicle history reports will be available for each listing by Ford dealers with a current, unlimited AutoCheck account and for all Ford Certified Pre-Owned (CPO) units. Dealers not currently using AutoCheck have the option of showing the AutoCheck link and allowing customers to purchase a full vehicle history report. This new offering expands AutoCheck's existing relationship with Ford, where it is the current vehicle history provider to Ford's CPO and Extended Service Plan (ESP) programs.
By the way, if the dealer you are using isn't providing free vehicle background checks, whether it be AutoCheck or CarFax, shop somewhere else. Dealers not willing to make the investment in free background checks are either hiding something or cutting corners.