Carfax
A vehicle history report provider with used-car listings.
Carfax at a glance
Carfax is an automotive website and one of the most visited sites in United States, currently ranked #440 in the country. It was founded in 1984 by Ewin Barnett III and is headquartered in Centreville, VA, USA. Today Carfax is owned by S&P Global Mobility. Our estimates put its audience at ≈ 25 million visits per month. The business earns money mainly through report fees, dealer subscriptions. Its closest rivals include autotrader.com, cars.com, kbb.com.
Traffic statistics
Traffic history
| Period | Visits | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Q1 | ≈ 23.5 million / month | +2% |
| Q2 | ≈ 24.3 million / month | +3% |
| Q3 | ≈ 25 million / month | +3% |
| Q4 | ≈ 26.5 million / month | +6% |
Traffic sources
- Direct44%
- Organic search38%
- Paid search10%
- Referral5%
- Social3%
Audience & demographics
- Men68%
- Women32%
- Age 25-3428%
- Age 35-4427%
- Age 45-5421%
The audience is concentrated in United States, skewing urban and mobile, with usage peaks in the evening hours.
Geographic reach
- United States86%
Home market
- Diaspora and neighbouring markets7%
- Europe3%
- North America2%
- Rest of world2%
SEO profile
- Estimated organic traffic
- ≈ 7.5 million visits / month
- Branded share of search
- High — brand terms lead the keyword profile
- Indexed pages
- Large — category, listing or article level
- Primary search market
- United States
Top organic keywords
| Keyword | Position | Volume | Traffic share |
|---|---|---|---|
| carfax | 1 | Very high | Dominant |
| used cars | Top 10 | High | — |
| car prices | Top 10 | High | — |
| car reviews | Top 10 | High | — |
Backlink profile
- Referring domains
- Tens of thousands
- Link profile
- News coverage, directories, blogs and partner sites
- Authority
- High within the United States web
Top referral sources
- News and media31%
- Directories and aggregators24%
- Blogs and forums20%
- Partner sites14%
- Other11%
Technology stack
Website technologies
Advertising & analytics technologies
Stack details are inferred from public front-end signals and engineering communications; internal systems may differ.
Mobile app statistics
Available in the local store
Available in the local store
- App share of traffic
- ≈ 70% mobile
- Position in country
- Among the leading automotive apps in United States
Company information
- Website
- carfax.com
- Sector
- Automotive
- Owner
- S&P Global Mobility
- Owner type
- Subsidiary of public company
- Founders
- Ewin Barnett III
- Founded
- 1984
- Headquarters
- Centreville, VA, USA
- Employees
- 1,000+
- Ownership
- S&P Global Mobility controls the platform. Ownership details are based on public filings and press reporting.
- Revenue
- ≈ $500 million annual revenue (est.)
- Languages
- English
- Top traffic sources
- direct, organic search, paid search
Financials
- Revenue
- ≈ $500 million annual revenue (est.)
- Ownership
- Subsidiary of public company
- Reporting
- Figures based on public filings, press reports and market estimates
Business model & revenue
Carfax operates an automotive marketplace focused on United States. A vehicle history report provider with used-car listings. Revenue comes mainly from report fees, supported by the other lines listed below.
- Report fees
- Dealer subscriptions
Products & services
Related deals on Amazon
As an Amazon Associate, Global Site Index earns from qualifying purchases.
International presence
- Primary market
- United States
- Expansion
- Regional and diaspora audiences beyond the home market
Employee statistics
Customer statistics
Website rankings
- Country rank (United States)
- #440 in this index
- Sector rank
- Leading automotive site in United States
- Global rank
- 2500
Main competitors
Website comparisons
| Website | Monthly visits | Rank | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| autotrader.com | ≈ 15 million / month | #441 class competitor | — |
| cars.com | ≈ 11.2 million / month | #442 class competitor | — |
| kbb.com | ≈ 7.5 million / month | #443 class competitor | — |
What is Carfax?
Carfax (carfax.com) is an automotive marketplace serving users in United States. A vehicle history report provider with used-car listings. It ranks #440 among the most visited websites in the country in this index, within the automotive category.
Who owns Carfax?
The site is operated by S&P Global Mobility, founded by Ewin Barnett III. The company was established in 1984 and is headquartered in Centreville, VA, USA. It employs around 1,000+.
Traffic and audience
Traffic estimates place Carfax at roughly 25 million visits per month, about 0.8 million per day. Around 70% mobile of sessions come from mobile devices, and visitors view about 8.1 pages per visit with an average session of 7 min.
How Carfax makes money
Revenue comes primarily from report fees, alongside dealer subscriptions.
Competitors in United States
Its closest rivals include autotrader.com, cars.com, kbb.com.
Data and accuracy
Company facts are drawn from public sources. Traffic, revenue and audience figures are third-party estimates or sector benchmarks, marked with ≈ where modelled, and are reviewed periodically.
Company history & milestones
- 1984
Carfax is founded in Centreville, VA, USA.
- Growth phase
Expands its automotive offering and moves to a mobile-first product.
- Today
Ranks #440 among the most visited websites in United States.
User reviews & ratings
| Source | Score | Reviews | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Google Play | ≈ 4.3 / 5 | — | Ratings from the local store listing |
| App Store | ≈ 4.5 / 5 | — | Ratings from the local store listing |
| Consumer review platforms | Mixed | — | Service and support are common themes |
App store ratings are solid, while consumer review platforms show the usual friction around support and service quality.
Pros & cons
Pros
- Deepest local vehicle inventory
- Detailed specification and price comparison tools
- Dealer and private listings side by side
- Financing and insurance partners integrated
Cons
- Dealer listing costs are high
- Price data can lag the real market
- Vehicle history checks are a paid add-on
- Regional coverage uneven outside big cities
Key statistics
Frequently asked questions
Who owns Carfax?
Carfax is operated by S&P Global Mobility. Subsidiary of public company structure, based on public filings and press reporting.
Where is Carfax headquartered?
Carfax is headquartered in Centreville, VA, USA.
When was Carfax founded?
Carfax was founded in 1984 by Ewin Barnett III.
How many employees does Carfax have?
Carfax employs approximately 1,000+ people.
What is Carfax's revenue?
Carfax's revenue: ≈ $500 million annual revenue (est.).
Who are Carfax's competitors?
Main competitors in United States include autotrader.com, cars.com, kbb.com.
How does Carfax make money?
Mainly report fees, dealer subscriptions.
Is Carfax publicly traded?
Carfax's ownership: Subsidiary of public company.
How many visitors does Carfax get?
Third-party estimates place Carfax at roughly 25 million visits per month, mostly from United States, with 70% mobile traffic.
Is Carfax safe?
Carfax is an established automotive site founded in 1984 and ranked #440 in United States; use the official domain carfax.com and HTTPS.
Popular searches
Data sources & confidence
- Company website and public announcementscarfax.com
- Third-party traffic estimation providersSimilarweb-class estimates
Visit figures are modelled, not measured
- App store listingsApple App Store, Google Play
- Press and market coverageUnited States and international business media
- Data confidence
- Medium for company facts, medium-low for traffic and financial estimates. All modelled figures are rounded and marked with ≈.
- Last updated
- September 2026
Traffic, revenue and audience figures are third-party estimates or derived from sector benchmarks, and are reviewed periodically.
Social media profiles & statistics
Official brand account
Announcements and support
Community and campaigns
Company and hiring updates
Brand and product videos