Is there a free service to run a vehicle VIN number?

[Spacemom]

How do services like Carfax access this information, but I can't? If they are accessing DMV records, shouldn't that be public?

Thanks.

[Westegg]

1. TGuy who killed Rebecca Shaeffer tracked her down via the DMV...

...that actress who was murdered in the '90s, I think, in L.A. by a crazed stalker? So they changed the laws about public access to info of that kind, at least in California.

[Spacemom]

2. But you can still pay Carfax to run a report

I just don't have the $30 bucks to do it. I ran a few reports a few years ago when I was last buying a vehicle, and it didn't contain personal information. Just notes of the vehicle changing hands or accidents.

[gilpo]

3. I thought carfax was free now.

you can get a free report through edmunds.com

[Spacemom]

4. The "free" carfax report

only tells you how many "records" there are about a vehicle. It doesn't tell you if they are accident reports or anything like that.