CARFAX Recognizes Top-Rated Car Dealers Nationwide

Rhea-AI Summary

CARFAX announced the seventh annual CARFAX Top-Rated Dealers list on Feb 4, 2026, recognizing U.S. dealerships based on millions of verified customer ratings and reviews. The award group averaged 4.6 out of 5 stars, with over 10.8 million verified ratings powering the results.

Winners include first-time recipients, dealers with five consecutive years of recognition (5X), and dealers achieving six- and seven-time honors. Awarded dealers receive showroom materials, digital assets, and eligibility to display the #GoldenCARFOX.

Key Figures

Top dealer rating: 4.6 out of 5 stars Verified ratings: 10.8 million Award vintage: Seventh annual +2 more

5 metrics

Top dealer rating 4.6 out of 5 stars Average rating for CARFAX Top-Rated Dealers

Verified ratings 10.8 million Number of verified customer ratings and reviews cited

Award vintage Seventh annual Edition of CARFAX Top-Rated Dealers Awards

Consecutive years Five years Duration for 5X Top-Rated Dealer Award eligibility

Consistent winners share Nearly 20% Portion of dealers winning every year since award inception

Market Reality Check

Price: $468.21 Vol: Volume 6715168 is 3.91x t...

high vol

$468.21 Last Close

Volume Volume 6715168 is 3.91x the 20-day average, indicating elevated trading activity. high

Technical Shares trade below the 200-day MA of 514.63, with price at 468.21.

Peers on Argus

SPGI fell 11.27% while key peers also weakened: MCO -6.3%, ICE -4.4%, MSCI -4.85...

SPGI fell 11.27% while key peers also weakened: MCO -6.3%, ICE -4.4%, MSCI -4.85%, NDAQ -8.9%, with CME +0.89%. Sector scanner did not flag a coordinated momentum move.

Common Catalyst Several peers reported routine operational or technology updates today, but price moves appear more stock-specific than a unified sector reaction.

Historical Context

5 past events · Latest: Jan 30 (Neutral)

Pattern 5 events

Date	Event	Sentiment	Move	Catalyst
Jan 30	Safety recall analysis	Neutral	-0.2%	CARFAX Canada highlighted nearly one million used vehicles with open recalls.
Jan 27	Housing index update	Neutral	-1.6%	S&P CoreLogic Case-Shiller reported modest November 2025 U.S. home price gains.
Jan 20	Child-seat recall alert	Neutral	-5.0%	CARFAX warned about nearly one million vehicles with open child-seat anchor recalls.
Jan 15	Regulatory resolution	Positive	+0.1%	SEC dismissed an enforcement proceeding against IEH Corporation, a separate issuer.
Jan 14	Dividend increase	Positive	+0.1%	S&P Global increased its quarterly dividend from <b>$0.96</b> to <b>$0.97</b> per share.

Pattern Detected

Recent SPGI and CARFAX-related headlines have generally seen small, directionally aligned price moves, suggesting limited immediate impact from typical news flow.

Recent Company History

Over the past few weeks, news tied to S&P Global and its CARFAX and housing indices has been largely informational. CARFAX issued safety-related recall reports on used vehicles and child-seat anchors, while the S&P CoreLogic Case-Shiller Index showed modest U.S. home price gains. Separately, S&P Global approved a 1.0% dividend increase to $0.97 per share, lifting the annualized rate to $3.88. Price reactions to these items, ranging from about -5% to slightly positive, indicate measured responses to steady, non-transformational updates.

Market Pulse Summary

This announcement highlights CARFAX’s role within S&P Global’s ecosystem, emphasizing dealer quality...

Analysis

This announcement highlights CARFAX’s role within S&P Global’s ecosystem, emphasizing dealer quality through an average rating of 4.6 out of 5 and over 10.8 million verified reviews. It reinforces brand strength and customer engagement rather than signaling a discrete financial inflection. In context of recent informational releases and a modest dividend increase, investors may focus on how consistently high ratings and recurring dealer recognition contribute to the long-term value of SPGI’s data and analytics franchises.

AI-generated analysis. Not financial advice.

Millions of Verified Customer Ratings Drive the Seventh Annual CARFAX Awards

LAS VEGAS, Feb. 4, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- CARFAX announces the nation's top dealerships, an achievement earned through the feedback from millions of verified consumers. The highly anticipated list of the seventh annual CARFAX Top-Rated Dealers Award is now available, coinciding with the National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA) show in Las Vegas. The average rating for CARFAX Top-Rated Dealers is an impressive 4.6 out of 5 stars, based on verified consumer reviews.

CARFAX is proud to recognize first-time winners and the latest recipients of the 5X Top-Rated Dealer Award, honoring dealerships that have maintained outstanding customer ratings for five consecutive years. It's also exciting to see dealers earning the award for a sixth and even seventh time – where nearly 20% of winners have been CARFAX Top-Rated Dealers every year since the award's inception.

"Consumers are at the heart of the CARFAX Top-Rated Dealers awards," said Gregg Cleary, Chief Revenue Officer at CARFAX. "With more than 10.8 million verified ratings and reviews, this recognition is powered by real customer feedback and sets the standard for exceptional customer experiences. We want to continue connecting customers with the most trusted dealers in the country."

"We're really proud to show up for our customers every day," said Chris Gilbert, COO at Fred Beans Automotive Group. "Transparency and trust are just how we do business, and our long-standing partnership with CARFAX, especially as a Lifetime Dealer, helps us provide people with the information and confidence they need at every stage of ownership. And we love seeing familiar faces walk through our doors time and time again."

All of the dealerships within the family-owned and operated Fred Beans Auto Group that earned the CARFAX Top-Rated Dealer award this year are also CARFAX Lifetime dealers. As Lifetime dealers, they're able to access the most accident, damage, and service information through CARFAX Vehicle History Reports, offer a free CARFAX Report for all vehicles listed on carfax.com, and leverage CARFAX For Life to deliver timely maintenance reminders to customers, boosting their retention. These dealers build lasting customer relationships that drive long-term loyalty.

The nation's winning CARFAX Top-Rated Dealers will receive a kit of materials to display in their showrooms and access to a suite of custom CARFAX Top-Rated Dealer digital assets. These resources will help dealers highlight their excellent ratings online, including on social media, using #CARFAXTopRated. Additionally, the 2025 CARFAX Top-Rated Dealers can showcase their recognition on the Vehicle History Reports they provide. The coveted #GoldenCARFOX will soon be arriving at the winning dealerships.

Editor's note: All are welcome to visit the CARFAX booth 3943W (West Hall) at the NADA Show to learn more. Interviews are available, including in-person at NADA. Please contact Em Nguyen at emnguyen@carfax.com.

About CARFAX

CARFAX, part of S&P Global Mobility, helps millions of people every day confidently shop, buy, service, and sell cars with innovative solutions powered by CARFAX® vehicle history information. The expert in vehicle history since 1984, CARFAX provides CARFAX Car Listings, CARFAX Car Care, CARFAX History-Based Value , and the flagship CARFAX Vehicle History Report to consumers and the automotive industry. CARFAX owns the world's largest vehicle history database and is nationally recognized as a top workplace by The Washington Post. Shop, Buy, Service, Sell – Show me the CARFAX®.

S&P Global Mobility is a division of S&P Global (NYSE: SPGI). S&P Global is the world's foremost provider of credit ratings, benchmarks, analytics, and workflow solutions in the global capital, commodity, and automotive markets.

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SOURCE CARFAX

FAQ

What criteria determined the CARFAX Top-Rated Dealers list for 2026 (SPGI-related)?

CARFAX compiled the list using millions of verified customer ratings and reviews, averaging 4.6 out of 5 stars. According to CARFAX, the awards reflect aggregated verified consumer feedback across participating dealerships nationwide.

How many verified ratings supported the 2026 CARFAX Top-Rated Dealers announcement?

The recognition was supported by more than 10.8 million verified ratings and reviews. According to CARFAX, that dataset underpins the awards and the average dealer rating of 4.6/5.

What benefits do CARFAX Top-Rated Dealers receive for 2026?

Winning dealers receive a showroom kit, custom CARFAX Top-Rated Dealer digital assets, and the ability to showcase the award on Vehicle History Reports. According to CARFAX, assets help highlight ratings online and in social channels.

What does the 5X Top-Rated Dealer Award mean for a dealership?

The 5X designation recognizes dealers with five consecutive years of outstanding customer ratings. According to CARFAX, it signifies sustained high customer satisfaction and qualifies dealers for special recognition like Lifetime dealer benefits.

Can customers find CARFAX Top-Rated Dealers at the NADA Show on Feb 4, 2026?

Yes. CARFAX invited attendees to visit booth 3943W (West Hall) at the NADA Show for more information and interviews. According to CARFAX, representatives and materials are available in person during the event.