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Tended vs CARFAX: What Is the Difference?

March 29, 2026 · 7 min read· By James Monk — Founder of Tended

CARFAX has been the default vehicle history report for decades. But it was built for a different era -- one where dealerships controlled all the data. Tended is built for owners.

What CARFAX Does Well

CARFAX aggregates data from thousands of sources: DMV records, insurance claims, dealer service departments, auction houses. It is excellent at surfacing events -- accidents, title changes, odometer readings, recalls.

What CARFAX Misses

CARFAX cannot show what it does not receive. Independent shop visits, DIY maintenance, owner-performed upgrades -- none of that appears. And CARFAX does not cover homes, motorcycles, or any non-vehicle asset.

Where Tended Fills the Gap

  • Owner-controlled -- you build the record, not a third party
  • AI-verified -- every entry requires proof reviewed by AI
  • Multi-asset -- vehicles and homes today, more categories coming
  • Tended Score -- a single number that represents maintenance quality
  • Shareable -- public report link for buyers, no account needed to view

They Work Together

Tended does not replace CARFAX -- it complements it. CARFAX shows the vehicle's event history. Tended shows the owner's maintenance history. Together, a buyer gets the complete picture.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Tended replace CARFAX?

No. Tended complements CARFAX. CARFAX tracks vehicle events like accidents and title changes. Tended verifies owner-performed maintenance with AI-reviewed proof.

Can I use both Tended and CARFAX when selling?

Absolutely. Sharing both gives buyers the most complete picture -- event history from CARFAX and verified maintenance from Tended.

Start Building Your Tended Report

No proof, no entry. That is the point.

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The app that proves you took care of it.