# CARFAX Used Cars Scraper (`parseforge/carfax-scraper`) Actor

Scrapes CARFAX used car listings by search filters or direct URL. Returns each vehicle as a flat row with price, mileage, year, VIN, dealer info, and optional history data.

- **URL**: https://apify.com/parseforge/carfax-scraper.md
- **Developed by:** [ParseForge](https://apify.com/parseforge) (community)
- **Categories:** E-commerce, Automation
- **Features:** Limited permissions
- **Stats:** 58 total users, 4 monthly users, 100.0% runs succeeded, 0 bookmarks
- **User rating**: No ratings yet

## Pricing

from $22.99 / 1,000 result items

This Actor is paid per event. You are not charged for the Apify platform usage, but only a fixed price for specific events.
Since this Actor supports Apify Store discounts, the price gets lower the higher subscription plan you have.

Learn more: https://docs.apify.com/actors/running/actors-in-store.md#pay-per-event

## What's an Apify Actor?

An Actor is a serverless cloud program that runs on the Apify platform. It has two run modes.
In Batch mode, an Actor accepts a well-defined JSON input, performs an action which can take anything from a few seconds to a few hours,
and optionally produces a well-defined JSON output, datasets with results, or files in key-value store.
In Standby mode, an Actor provides a web server which can be used as a website, API, or an MCP server.

Apify vocabulary and the platform model are defined once, in the agent quickstart at https://apify.com/agents.md.

## How to integrate an Actor?

If asked about integration, you help developers integrate Actors into their projects.
You adapt to their stack and deliver integrations that are safe, well-documented, and production-ready.

Do not guess an integration path. Every one of them is in the agent quickstart at https://apify.com/agents.md: the Apify MCP server, Agent Skills with the Apify CLI, the JavaScript and Python clients, the REST API, and the account-free path for an agent with no human to sign in. It also carries the rule on stating cost before the first paid run.

For examples already wired to this Actor's own input schema, see the [API](#api) section below.

Each client library has reference documentation the quickstart does not restate: [JavaScript/TypeScript](https://docs.apify.com/api/client/js/docs.md) (`npm install apify-client`) and [Python](https://docs.apify.com/api/client/python/docs.md) (`pip install apify-client`).

# README

[![ParseForge](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ParseForge/apify-assets/main/banner-v4.webp)](https://apify.com/parseforge?fpr=vmoqkp)

### CARFAX Used Cars Scraper

**Scrape CARFAX used car listings by make, model, ZIP code, or direct URL, up to a million vehicles per run.** Every listing comes with price, mileage, year, VIN, dealer info, and optional full vehicle history. No login or API key. Export to CSV, JSON, Excel, or XML.

**Low minimum charge:** $0.005 to start a run, then you only pay for the results you get.

CARFAX doesn't offer a public API for its used car listings, and manual browsing is slow and hard to filter. This Actor reads the public CARFAX search pages directly, applies your filters as it goes, and returns each matching vehicle as one flat row. You can search by ZIP code, make, model, year, price, mileage, and more, or paste a direct CARFAX search URL.

| Who uses it | What they scrape CARFAX for |
|---|---|
| Car dealers | Monitor competitor pricing and inventory in their local market |
| Market researchers | Track used car supply, pricing trends, and model availability by region |
| Car flippers | Find undervalued vehicles with clean histories and high resale potential |
| Data analysts | Build datasets of used car listings for pricing models and dashboards |
| Auto journalists | Gather current market data for articles on used car trends |

### What it does

This Actor collects CARFAX used car listings by search filters or direct URL, and returns each vehicle as a flat row with price, mileage, year, VIN, dealer, and optional history data.

- 🔍 **Search by filters:** ZIP code, make, model, year range, price range, max mileage, radius, and more.
- 🔗 **Direct URL mode:** Paste any CARFAX search URL and the Actor will paginate through all results.
- 📋 **Vehicle history enrichment:** Optionally fetch accident history, owner count, service records, and price history for each vehicle.
- ⚡ **Fast and scalable:** Collect up to 1,000,000 vehicles per run with configurable concurrency.
- 📊 **Structured output:** Every vehicle is returned as a flat row with consistent fields, ready for CSV, JSON, Excel, or XML export.

Results export to CSV, JSON, Excel, or XML, or straight from the API.

### What you can do with CARFAX data

**📈 Monitor competitor pricing.**

A used car dealer runs the Actor daily for their ZIP code and key models to track competitor asking prices and adjust their own listings.

**🔎 Find undervalued cars to flip.**

A car flipper filters for one-owner, no-accident vehicles under market price and uses the history data to confirm clean titles before buying.

**📊 Analyze regional market trends.**

A market researcher collects listings across multiple ZIP codes and months to analyze supply, demand, and price depreciation by model.

**🚗 Build a used car dataset.**

A data analyst scrapes thousands of CARFAX listings with full history to train a pricing model or feed a business intelligence dashboard.

**📰 Report on used car market.**

An auto journalist gathers current CARFAX data on popular models to write an article on used car availability and pricing trends.

### Why choose this scraper

| | What you get |
|---|---|
| **No API key or login** | Scrapes public CARFAX pages directly, no registration or OAuth needed |
| **Full vehicle history** | Optional enrichment adds accident, owner, service, and price history per vehicle |
| **Flexible search** | Filter by ZIP, make, model, year, price, mileage, and more, or use a direct URL |
| **Scalable** | Collect up to 1,000,000 vehicles per run with adjustable concurrency |
| **Structured data** | Every vehicle is a flat row with consistent fields, ready for analysis |

### How it compares

This Actor focuses on CARFAX search listings with optional history enrichment, while the Cars.com scraper targets Cars.com listings with flip scores, and the CARFAX VIN report actor downloads PDF reports by VIN.

| Feature | ParseForge | Cars.com Scraper - Deals, Specs & Flip Scores | $3.5 Carfax Report by VIN (PDF)✅ - Lookup & Car History Reports |
|---|---|---|---|
| Scrapes CARFAX search listings | Yes | Not listed | Not listed |
| Optional vehicle history enrichment | Yes | Not listed | Yes |
| Search by ZIP code, make, model, year, price, mileage | Yes | Not listed | Not listed |
| Direct URL input | Yes | Not listed | Not listed |
| Returns VIN, dealer info, and listing URL | Yes | Yes | Not listed |
| Downloads CARFAX PDF reports by VIN | No | Not listed | Yes |
| AI flip score and deal ratings | No | Yes | Not listed |

### Configure the run

Drive the Actor from a direct CARFAX search URL or a set of filters like ZIP code, make, model, year, price, mileage, and vehicle history flags. Filters are applied as each listing is read, so only matching vehicles reach your dataset. The Input tab lists every parameter.

A first run with the defaults:

```json
{
 "startUrl": "https://www.carfax.com/Used-Toyota-Camry_w630?zip=90210&radius=50",
 "maxItems": 10
}
```

A larger pull:

```json
{
 "startUrl": "https://www.carfax.com/Used-Toyota-Camry_w630?zip=90210&radius=50",
 "maxItems": 200
}
```

### Pricing

Pay-per-result: **$0.03066 per result** collected. You pay only for the results written to your dataset.

| Results collected | Approximate cost |
|---|---|
| 100 results | $3.07 |
| 1,000 results | $30.66 |
| 10,000 results | $306.60 |

#### Optional extras (from 3 October 2026)

Three blocks CARFAX publishes per vehicle are now available, each an extra lookup and each priced on its own. A block that does not come back is never charged.

| Event | Price | Charged when |
|---|---|---|
| `dealer-contact` | $0.01 per vehicle | the dealer phone, website and hours came back |
| `price-history` | $0.008 per vehicle | the list price history came back |
| `payment-estimate` | $0.005 per vehicle | the financing estimate came back |

New Apify accounts start with $5 in free credit.

### Free users

Free-plan runs return up to 10 results as a preview. [Upgrade your Apify plan](https://console.apify.com/sign-up?fpr=vmoqkp) to collect up to 1,000,000 results per run.

### Run it

1. [Create a free Apify account with $5 in credit](https://console.apify.com/sign-up?fpr=vmoqkp).
2. Open the [CARFAX Used Cars Scraper](https://apify.com/parseforge/carfax-scraper?fpr=vmoqkp).
3. Set your inputs and any filters, then click **Start**.
4. Export the results as CSV, Excel, JSON, or XML from the **Dataset** tab.

Run it programmatically through the [Apify API](https://docs.apify.com/api/v2) (`run-sync-get-dataset-items`) or the [ApifyClient](https://docs.apify.com/api/client/js) for JavaScript and Python.

### Use with AI agents (MCP)

Give an AI agent live access to CARFAX through the Model Context Protocol. Add the Actor to Claude, Cursor, or any MCP client:

```bash
claude mcp add --transport http apify "https://mcp.apify.com?tools=parseforge/carfax-scraper"
```

Then prompt it in plain language to run the scraper and read back the results.

### Troubleshooting

**Why am I getting no results?**

Check your filters. If you set a Start URL, all other filters are ignored, so make sure the URL itself returns results. If using filters, ensure the ZIP code is valid and the make/model combination exists. Also check that price, year, and mileage ranges are not too restrictive.

**Why is the run taking so long?**

If Include Vehicle History is enabled, the Actor makes an extra request per vehicle, which significantly increases run time. Disable it if you don't need history data. You can also increase Max Concurrency to speed up history fetching, but be careful not to get rate-limited.

**Why am I getting rate-limited or blocked?**

Reduce Max Concurrency to 1 or 2. Also consider running the Actor during off-peak hours. If the problem persists, try using a different IP address through Apify's proxy options.

**Why are some fields empty in the output?**

Some fields may not be present on every CARFAX listing. For example, service records or accident history may be missing if CARFAX doesn't have that data. Empty fields are normal and indicate the data was not available on the page.

**Can I scrape a specific vehicle by VIN?**

This Actor is designed for search results, not individual VIN lookups. To get a report for a specific VIN, use a dedicated CARFAX VIN lookup actor. You can, however, search by make, model, and other filters to find vehicles matching your criteria.

**Why does the Actor stop before reaching my max items?**

The Actor stops when there are no more results matching your filters. If you set a high Maximum vehicles but the search only returns a few hundred, the run will end after collecting all available results.

### FAQ

| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Do I need a CARFAX account or API key? | No. The Actor scrapes public CARFAX search pages directly. No login, API key, or registration is required. |
| Can I scrape a specific CARFAX search URL? | Yes. Paste any CARFAX search URL into the Start URL field. The Actor will paginate through all results from that URL, ignoring other filters. |
| What data does the Actor return for each vehicle? | Each vehicle is returned as a flat row with fields like price, mileage, year, make, model, VIN, dealer name, location, and listing URL. If you enable Include Vehicle History, it also adds accident history, owner count, service records, and price history. |
| How do I filter for specific vehicles? | Use the search filters: ZIP code, make, model, listing type (used/new), year range, price range, max mileage, radius, and flags like No Accidents Only, One Owner Only, Service Records Available, and Personal Use Only. |
| Can I scrape both used and new cars? | Yes. Set the Listing Type filter to 'used' or 'new'. The default is 'used'. |
| How many vehicles can I scrape in one run? | You can set Maximum vehicles up to 1,000,000. The Actor will stop after reaching that number, even if more results are available. |
| Does the Actor get vehicle history reports? | If you enable Include Vehicle History, the Actor fetches accident history, owner history, service records, and price history for each vehicle. This adds one extra request per vehicle and increases run time. |
| Can I sort the results? | Yes. Use the Sort By option to order by Best Match, Price (low to high or high to low), Mileage, Year, or Recently Listed. |
| What output formats are supported? | The Actor returns data in a structured format that can be exported to CSV, JSON, Excel, or XML from the Apify platform. |
| Is this Actor affiliated with CARFAX? | No. This is a third-party scraper that reads public CARFAX pages. It is not affiliated with or endorsed by CARFAX, Inc. |
| Can I run this Actor on a schedule? | Yes. You can set up a recurring schedule in Apify to run the Actor daily, weekly, or at any interval to keep your data fresh. |
| What if I get rate-limited? | Lower the Max Concurrency setting to reduce parallel requests. The default is 3, and you can set it as low as 1. |

### Related actors

Browse the full [ParseForge collection](https://apify.com/parseforge?fpr=vmoqkp) for more scrapers.

🆘 **Need help?** Email parseforge@protonmail.com with your run ID, your input, and what you expected.

⚠️ **Disclaimer.** This Actor is unofficial and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by CARFAX, Inc. It collects only publicly available data. You are responsible for using the collected data in compliance with the source's terms of service and applicable data-protection laws, including GDPR, CCPA, and PIPL. Do not use it to collect personal data unlawfully.

# Actor input Schema

## `startUrl` (type: `string`):

Direct CARFAX search URL (e.g. https://www.carfax.com/Used-Toyota-Camry_z90210). If provided, all filter fields below are ignored.

## `maxItems` (type: `integer`):

Maximum number of vehicles to collect per run.

## `zipCode` (type: `string`):

US ZIP code to center the search around (e.g. 90210). Required when not using a Start URL.

## `make` (type: `string`):

Vehicle make/brand (e.g. Toyota, Ford, Honda).

## `model` (type: `string`):

Vehicle model (e.g. Camry, F-150, Civic). Requires Make to be set.

## `type` (type: `string`):

Whether to search used or new vehicles.

## `minYear` (type: `integer`):

Minimum model year (e.g. 2018).

## `maxYear` (type: `integer`):

Maximum model year (e.g. 2024).

## `priceMin` (type: `integer`):

Minimum price in US dollars.

## `priceMax` (type: `integer`):

Maximum price in US dollars.

## `mileageMax` (type: `integer`):

Maximum odometer reading in miles.

## `radius` (type: `string`):

Search radius from the ZIP code.

## `sortBy` (type: `string`):

How to sort the results.

## `noAccidents` (type: `boolean`):

Only show vehicles with no reported accidents.

## `oneOwner` (type: `boolean`):

Only show vehicles with a single previous owner.

## `serviceRecords` (type: `boolean`):

Only show vehicles with available service records.

## `personalUse` (type: `boolean`):

Only show vehicles used for personal (not fleet/rental) use.

## `includeHistory` (type: `boolean`):

Fetch accident history, owner history, service records, and price history for each vehicle. Adds one extra request per vehicle — significantly increases run time. Disabled by default.

## `includeDealerContact` (type: `boolean`):

The selling dealer phone, website, CARFAX page, opening hours, coordinates and any additional fee. One request per vehicle. Charged only for a vehicle that receives it.

## `includePriceHistory` (type: `boolean`):

Every list price this vehicle has had, with the date of each change, plus the all-in price with fees. One request per vehicle. Charged only for a vehicle that receives it.

## `includePaymentEstimate` (type: `boolean`):

CARFAX financing estimate: monthly payment, interest rate, term, down payment and loan amount. One request per vehicle. Charged only for a vehicle that receives it.

## `maxConcurrency` (type: `integer`):

Maximum parallel requests for history enrichment. Lower if you get rate-limited.

## Actor input object example

```json
{
  "startUrl": "https://www.carfax.com/Used-Toyota-Camry_w630?zip=90210&radius=50",
  "maxItems": 10,
  "make": "",
  "type": "used",
  "radius": "50",
  "sortBy": "BEST",
  "noAccidents": false,
  "oneOwner": false,
  "serviceRecords": false,
  "personalUse": false,
  "includeHistory": true,
  "includeDealerContact": false,
  "includePriceHistory": false,
  "includePaymentEstimate": false,
  "maxConcurrency": 3
}
```

# Actor output Schema

## `results` (type: `string`):

Dataset with all scraped items

# API

You can run this Actor programmatically using our API. Below are code examples in JavaScript, Python, and CLI, as well as the OpenAPI specification and MCP server setup.

## JavaScript example

```javascript
import { ApifyClient } from 'apify-client';

// Initialize the ApifyClient with your Apify API token
// Replace the '<YOUR_API_TOKEN>' with your token
const client = new ApifyClient({
    token: '<YOUR_API_TOKEN>',
});

// Prepare Actor input
const input = {
    "startUrl": "https://www.carfax.com/Used-Toyota-Camry_w630?zip=90210&radius=50",
    "maxItems": 10,
    "make": ""
};

// Run the Actor and wait for it to finish
const run = await client.actor("parseforge/carfax-scraper").call(input);

// Fetch and print Actor results from the run's dataset (if any)
console.log('Results from dataset');
console.log(`💾 Check your data here: https://console.apify.com/storage/datasets/${run.defaultDatasetId}`);
const { items } = await client.dataset(run.defaultDatasetId).listItems();
items.forEach((item) => {
    console.dir(item);
});

// 📚 Want to learn more 📖? Go to → https://docs.apify.com/api/client/js/docs

```

## Python example

```python
from apify_client import ApifyClient

# Initialize the ApifyClient with your Apify API token
# Replace '<YOUR_API_TOKEN>' with your token.
client = ApifyClient("<YOUR_API_TOKEN>")

# Prepare the Actor input
run_input = {
    "startUrl": "https://www.carfax.com/Used-Toyota-Camry_w630?zip=90210&radius=50",
    "maxItems": 10,
    "make": "",
}

# Run the Actor and wait for it to finish
run = client.actor("parseforge/carfax-scraper").call(run_input=run_input)

# Fetch and print Actor results from the run's dataset (if there are any)
print(f"💾 Check your data here: https://console.apify.com/storage/datasets/{run.default_dataset_id}")
for item in client.dataset(run.default_dataset_id).iterate_items():
    print(item)

# 📚 Want to learn more 📖? Go to → https://docs.apify.com/api/client/python/docs/quick-start

```

## CLI example

```bash
echo '{
  "startUrl": "https://www.carfax.com/Used-Toyota-Camry_w630?zip=90210&radius=50",
  "maxItems": 10,
  "make": ""
}' |
apify call parseforge/carfax-scraper --silent --output-dataset

```

## MCP server setup

```json
{
    "mcpServers": {
        "apify": {
            "type": "http",
            "url": "https://mcp.apify.com/?tools=fetch-actor-details,parseforge/carfax-scraper"
        }
    }
}
```

The hosted server signs you in with OAuth on first connect, so no API token belongs in this config. Clients without OAuth support can send an `Authorization: Bearer <APIFY_API_TOKEN>` header instead, using a token from API & Integrations in Apify Console (https://console.apify.com/settings/integrations).

## OpenAPI specification

Download the OpenAPI definition: https://api.apify.com/v2/actors/luXEhVQyGZg4sZqDV/builds/gOKzfOUfcNmdExBeI/openapi.json