Does Chartway FCU Require a CARFAX for a Used Car Loan?

Chartway Federal Credit Union does not list a CARFAX or AutoCheck report as a requirement on its public car loan pages. Its loan rate page, effective Nov. 5, 2026, prices loans by term, model year and loan amount, with discounts for autopay, loyalty and loan-to-value. That means checking the car history is your job, and it is worth doing before you take a Chartway approval to a seller.

What Chartway's pages say

I read Chartway's loan rates page and car loans page on Nov. 5, 2026. The rate page listed, for new 2026 cars with 6,000 miles or less and for used 2025-2026 model years:

• 4.65% APR for 1-48 months.
• 4.75% APR for 49-60 months.
• 5.00% APR for 61-72 months, with a $15,000 minimum.
• 5.39% APR for 73-75 months, with a $20,000 minimum.
• 6.09% APR for 76-84 months, with a $25,000 minimum.

The page also listed rate discounts of 0.25% for autopay, 0.25% for loyalty and 0.25% for loan-to-value under 90%, up to 0.75% in total. Its payment example was a $25,000 loan for 60 months on a 2025 car at 4.75% APR, about $469 a month. The page says these rates are not available in Virginia, North Carolina, Utah, Nevada or Texas, so check what applies where you live.

The car loans page mentions Express Auto Check for buying at franchise dealers and no payment for up to 90 days. Rates for older used model years were not shown in the table I read, so ask Chartway directly if your car is older than 2025.

Does Chartway require a CARFAX?

No requirement appears on either page. Neither mentions CARFAX, AutoCheck or a vehicle history report as a loan condition. Like most credit unions, Chartway cares about the vehicle value, the title and your credit. It does not take on the job of finding a past accident or flood record for you.

Why value and title matter more than the report

Chartway prices the loan on the car value, the term, the model year and your credit. If the car turns out to have a hidden accident or a branded title, its real value is lower than the number the loan was built on. You could owe more than the car is worth on day one. Our explainer on loan-to-value on a used car loan shows how that happens, and GAP coverage is one way to limit the damage if the car is totaled.

Dealer car or private sale

At a dealer, you can ask to see the history report the dealer pulled, but read it yourself rather than taking a salesperson summary. Check that the VIN on the report matches the car and the paperwork. In a private sale there is no dealer to ask, and no one else in the deal is looking for problems. If you plan to use a Chartway loan on a private-party car, run the report before you apply, so you do not waste a credit pull on a car you will walk away from.

Either way, the lender will want the title, the bill of sale and proof of insurance before it pays. A clean report does not replace a mechanic. It tells you what was reported, not what was hidden.

How to check the car yourself before you sign

• Run the VIN through a vehicle history report and look for salvage, flood, rebuilt or lemon brands, odometer problems and past accidents.
• Check open recalls at NHTSA. A lender will not do this for you.
• Look up the title history in NMVTIS if the car has moved between states.
• Ask for proof that any old lien is released. Our guide on getting a lien release before you buy covers how.
• Get a pre-purchase inspection on any private-party car.

A branded title changes the math. Many credit unions will not lend on one, or will lend less. See our guides on credit union loans on a salvage title and a loan on a rebuilt title car.

Questions to ask Chartway

• What rates apply to used model years older than 2025?
• Do you lend on private-party sales, and what paperwork is needed?
• Will you finance a car with a rebuilt or salvage title?
• How do you value the car: a guide like J.D. Power, or the sale price?

Making the discounts count

Chartway's loan-to-value discount only applies under 90%. On a used car that means a real down payment, or a price that is fair against book value. A car with an accident on its record can be worth less than its asking price, which pushes your LTV up and may cost you that discount. Check the report before you agree on a price, not after.

What the report costs

As of early November 2026 a CARFAX bought direct usually costs around $44.99, and AutoCheck sits a little lower. We are a licensed CARFAX and AutoCheck reseller, not affiliated with CARFAX, AutoCheck or Experian. Our guest price has been about $5.50 a report, about $4.50 for members, and about $6.75 for a CARFAX and AutoCheck bundle. Confirm the price at checkout, since it can change.

Sources

• Chartway loan rates
• Chartway car loans
• CFPB auto loan tools
• NHTSA recall lookup
• NMVTIS title history