AutoDNA vs carVertical: which is better in 2026?

Short answer: autoDNA is the cheaper of the two — €24.99 for one report versus carVertical’s €32.99 in its French store and $34.99 in its US store (prices checked 21 October 2026) — and it is the better buy if price decides it. carVertical is the better buy for a car imported from outside your market, where its larger cross-border source network is the whole point. Neither is the right first purchase for a car that has lived in one country: the free official register for that country already holds most of the same facts.

The honest head-to-head for the question everyone types before paying for a vehicle-history report. Both are legitimate aggregators — but they differ sharply on price and on what a report can actually tell you. Prices checked 21 October 2026 on each provider’s own page.

For most used-car buyers neither is the best first purchase: autoDNA is the cheaper of the two at €24.99 per report versus carVertical’s €32.99 (French store) / $34.99 (US), and both sell the same category of data — aggregated accident, mileage, theft and import history — that a free official register already covers for any car that has lived in one country; if you only need identification, official recalls and a market value, Automano does that scope for €7.90.

• autoDNA €24.99 per report; carVertical €32.99 (FR) / $34.99 (US) — checked 21 October 2026

• Both sell aggregated history: damage, odometer, theft, imports. Automano sells official data: identity, recalls, value — €7.90.

• autoDNA is stronger on Polish/German records; carVertical on cross-border and US data (1000+ sources).

• Rule of thumb: free official extract first, then a paid aggregator only for imports or a seller story that does not add up.

Common questions

• Which is better, autoDNA or carVertical?

  It depends on one thing: whether the car crosses borders. autoDNA wins on price — €24.99 for one report against carVertical’s €32.99 in its French store and $34.99 in its US store (21 October 2026). carVertical wins on reach — 1,000+ sources across Europe and the US, which matters for an imported car. For a car that has lived in one country, the free official register beats both on price (it is free) and often on depth for that country.

• Is autoDNA cheaper than carVertical?

  Yes. A single autoDNA report is €24.99, while carVertical is €32.99 in its French store and $34.99 in its US store (both checked 21 October 2026). Multi-report packs narrow the gap: autoDNA’s 3-pack is €16.66 per report versus carVertical’s US 3-pack at $19.99 per report.

• Is carVertical more accurate than autoDNA?

  Not inherently. Both report what their sources hold, and both name their sources. carVertical draws on more cross-border sources (1,000+), so for a car imported from several countries it can surface events autoDNA misses; autoDNA is strong on Polish and German records, where it is long established. On a car with no recorded events, either can return a thin report — accuracy is a property of the source data for your VIN, not of the brand.

• Is autoDNA legit?

  Yes. autoDNA has been in the market since 2010, reports drawing on data from 26+ countries and 50,000+ institutions, and displays its source scope openly on its site — it is a real, established provider, not a scam. The honest caveat is the same as for every aggregator: report depth depends on whether a source holds data for your specific vehicle.

• Is carVertical legit?

  Yes — carVertical is a real Lithuanian company with genuine data partnerships across 1,000+ sources. Public criticism focuses on value for money (paying ~€33 and receiving a thin report for a poorly-covered car), not on fraud. Its terms include a report return guarantee.

• Which is better for a used car in Europe?

  For a car that spent its life in one country, neither is your best first move — the free official register (MOT history in the UK, HistoVec in France, RDW in the Netherlands) covers most of it. For a cross-border or imported car, carVertical’s broader reach usually justifies its premium; for a simpler identity + recalls + value check, Automano’s €7.90 report is the cheaper, honest first step.

• Do autoDNA and carVertical include mileage and accident history?

  When a source holds the data, yes — both aggregate odometer readings, damage records, theft flags and import traces. But neither can guarantee it for every car: coverage varies by country and by vehicle, and both can return a thin report. No service can promise complete history from a VIN alone, because a VIN is an identifier, not a database.

• carVertical has a free check — is autoDNA free too?

  Both offer a free preview that tells you whether records exist before you pay; neither gives the full report for free. autoDNA’s free lookup shows which data types are available for your VIN, and carVertical’s free check shows flags. Automano’s VIN decoder, by contrast, is free and unlimited with a full decode.