Boatfax Review 2024 – Plans, Pros, Cons and Alternatives

How Boatfax Works?

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Boatfax is a website that you can use to find out more about the history of a boat or how much a boat is worth. The website is especially useful for people who want to check whether a boat is legitimate before buying the boat. To get a boat history report or an appraisal from Boatfax, you will need to provide some basic information about the boat.

Some details you will need to provide include:

• Hull Identification Number (HIN) of the boat
• The manufacturer of the boat
• The make, brand, and model of the boat
• For appraisals, the condition, equipment, and general information about the boat

What is Included in the Boatfax Report?

A boat history report from Boatfax is comprehensive and includes the following information:

• The manufacturer’s details
• Recently reported incidents concerning the boat, including hurricanes and thefts
• Registered liens
• Accident history
• Environmental checks
• Owner history
• Current location of the boat
• Valuation of the boat
• Any recalls that involve the boat

What is not Included in the Boatfax Report?

However, it is worth noting that some information is not included in the report, such as:

• Maintenance and service records
• Boat equipment check and motor VIN
• Technical information about the boats (including measurements and engine information)
• Insurance claims and warranties
• Abandonment or Misappropriation claims

Furthermore, Boatfax also does not publicize the databases that it uses. Thus, you might encounter boat history reports with missing information from private databases.

How Much Does a Boatfax Report Cost?

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A standard boat history report from Boatfax will cost $20 for a search within the United States. The website also offers additional services that can be purchased.

Some of these add-ons include:

• $3 for a worldwide search or $2 to search within an additional region
• $6 for a cross-check of the boat’s equipment with its registration information
• $5 for a smart search, which uses advanced algorithms to find hidden or corrupted information

If you purchase all of the add-ons, your boat history report will cost $34.

Does Boatfax Offer Free Boat History Reports?

Boatfax does not offer free boat history reports. However, you can get a free appraisal of the boat’s value, although this will not be in-depth. If you want a comprehensive valuation but do not want to buy a full boat history report, you can get a valuation for just $10.

Is Boatfax Legitimate or a Scam?

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Boatfax is a safe and legitimate website that you can use to find out more about a boat’s history. The website provides a secure service that can even help you avoid getting scammed by a buyer who might be trying to sell you a defective or stolen boat.

Moreover, I have also been unable to locate any negative reviews or complaints about the company. The website operates automatically as well, meaning that the algorithm generates a report for you once you pay the fee. Thus, you do not need to wait too long to get the report you bought.

However, it is worth noting that the company is based in the United Kingdom and may have limited access to private US databases.

Key Features of Boatfax

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HIN Validator

Boatfax offers a HIN validator feature that enables you to identify whether a HIN is legitimate. This feature can be useful if you are buying a boat from a stranger and want to find out whether the boat they are selling matches the HIN they provide. By doing so, you can avoid getting scammed.

Worldwide Search

Unlike some other websites that provide similar services, Boatfax offers a worldwide search feature. If you purchase this add-on, the website’s algorithm will search international databases for information about your boat. This process is comprehensive and can grant you peace of mind when buying a boat.

Regional Search

Boatfax also enables you to search the databases only from a specific region instead of the entire world.

You get one region included in the price of a boat history report, and each additional region you want to search will cost an extra $2. If you want to search more than one region, opt for a worldwide search for just an additional $3.

The regional databases that you can search include:

• United States
• Canada
• United Kingdom
• Europe
• Rest of the world

Cross Check

If you have more details about the equipment on a boat, you can buy the cross-check add-on. If you do so, the website will compare the details you provide with the registered information for the boat. You can then find out whether there is any piece of equipment on the boat that does not match the boat’s registered information.

Boatfax will also check its databases to see if there are any other boats with the equipment information that you provide. This feature can help you discover whether the boat you are interested in might be stolen.

Smart Search

Boatfax offers a Smart Search feature that uses advanced search algorithms to identify records that may have been corrupted or where information is not easily available. If you have suspicions about a boat you want to buy, this feature can help you uncover more details about it.

Pros and Cons of Getting a Boat History Report from Boatfax

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Boatfax Pros

• You can get an instant valuation for free
• A basic report with no add-ons will cost just $20, which is a very competitive price
• You can search international databases to find information about your boat worldwide
• If you only want to get a valuation for your boat, you can purchase one for just $10

Boatfax Cons

• A comprehensive boat report with all the add-ons will cost $34, which is higher than many other websites.
• The website does not share information about the databases it searches, so some information in private databases may still be missing from your report.

Is Boatfax Report Worth It?

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If you want to learn more about a boat’s history or get an accurate valuation for a boat you own, Boatfax is one of the best websites. You can get a comprehensive boat history report from Boatfax for just $20.

The information you will receive in a Boatfax report includes its owner history, accident history, registered liens, and much more. You can use this information to make a more well-informed decision about whether or not to purchase a boat.

However, Boatfax is a United Kingdom-based company, meaning that it is more suitable if you want to buy a boat that is not from Canada or the USA. If you are buying a boat in Canada or the USA, then an alternative to Boatfax like Boat Alert or Boat History Report will be a better option.

Boatfax FAQ

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What’s a HIN, and where can I find it?

A boat’s Hull Identification Number (or HIN) is a 12-digit code that all registered boats in the United States will have. Owners and authorities can use this code to keep track of a specific one since the HIN for each one is unique. You can find a boat’s HIN on its registration paperwork.

Does a Boatfax boat’s history affect its value?

A boat’s history on Boatfax can affect its value. Many factors can cause the value of a boat to decrease. Some of these factors include the accident history of the boat, any registered liens, and outstanding insurance claims.

Generally, boats with clean records and histories tend to have the best valuations.

Can I find the previous owners of the boat in the Boatfax report?

Boatfax will share some basic details about the previous owners of a boat in their report. However, some information will not be available for privacy and confidentiality reasons.

Can I print the Boatfax report?

You can print the Boatfax report at no additional cost.

How can I pay for Boatfax HIN report?

You can pay for your Boatfax report via credit card or PayPal.

Can I get a refund from Boatfax?

Unfortunately, Boatfax does not offer guaranteed refunds. Nonetheless, if you encounter any issues, you can still contact the website’s customer service to see if they might be able to refund you.