2025 Year in Rear View: CARFAX Canada Unveils Used Vehicle History Insights for the Year

With Millions of Issues Uncovered, Canadians Urged to Get a CARFAX Canada History Report Before Buying a Used Car

LONDON, ON – CARFAX Canada reveals its 2025 Year in Rear View¹, showcasing trends uncovered from the millions of Vehicle History Reports run over the past year. Key insights shared include accidents, weather-related damage and other critical factors that influence the used vehicle market and impact Canadian car buyers.

"Our data reveals critical issues buyers should be aware of when shopping in the used car market—from accidents and weather damage to money owing and fraud. One of the first things buyers should do is check a vehicle’s history and lien status before purchasing or they could risk ending up with a major headache," said Shawn Vording, President at CARFAX Canada.

In 2025, the total amount of accident claim damage found on CARFAX Canada Vehicle History Reports was more than $9.2 billion, which is 21% more than 2024. This year's Vehicle History Report data revealed more than 600,000 vehicles with accidents in their past. 

• Fun fact: February 18 was the day with the most accident records in 2025, with over a thousand incidents reported. The most expensive day for accident claims was January 28, costing more than $12.2 million. 
   

Beyond collisions, CARFAX Canada uncovered more than 50,000 vehicles with severe weather-related damage, leaving behind expensive repairs. Alberta leads the country’s weather-related claims with over $454 million in damages, of which 91% are related to hail. Ontario follows the list with more than $50.3 million in claims, and Quebec takes third place totaling $1.6 million in weather-related repairs.
 

The top 3 provinces with the most expensive hail-related claims: 

• Alberta: $414.8 million
• Ontario: $37.4 million
• Quebec: $1.56 million

Wind damage claims also impacted Canadians this year with Alberta, Ontario and Nova Scotia topping the list with the most expensive wind claims in the country. 

• Alberta: $39.9 million
• Ontario: $11.8 million
• Nova Scotia: $1.16 million
   

Money Owing: 40% of Vehicles

Liens (money owing on vehicles) persist as a top concern for used car buyers, with 40% of lien checks conducted revealing outstanding debt on vehicles.

CARFAX Canada’s 2025 Year in Rear View serves as a stark reminder that investigating a vehicle's history isn't just recommended—it's absolutely critical before making any used vehicle purchase. Without this essential due diligence, buyers risk inheriting costly mechanical problems, hidden accident damage, or even safety hazards that could put lives at risk and drain thousands from their wallets.

Other fun facts:

• White, black and gray are the most popular vehicle colours for Canadians
• The highest odometer reading found this year was on a 2015 GMC Savana with an impressive 995,761 kilometres logged

Vording adds “Canadians should remain vigilant against VIN fraud as this continues to be an issue in the country affecting the entire auto industry from used car buyers to vehicle owners, dealerships, and insurance providers. We estimate that over 372,000 vehicles are in the country with potentially cloned VINs.”

From accident records to money owning and potential VIN fraud, CARFAX Canada searches billions of data records to help Canadians make the right choice when buying used vehicles.

Visit carfax.ca to learn more about CARFAX Canada Vehicle History Report and VIN Fraud Check.