One in every 25 previously damaged vehicles is a target of airbag fraud, according to Carfax.com. Airbag fraud is a practice in which a mechanic doesn't reset the car with a proper airbag but still charges insurance companies for the work. After a car crashes and an airbag deploys, its airbag compartment needs to be reset with an airbag. Insurance companies pay mechanics between $2,500 and $3,000 to replace airbags. Some mechanics have been caught accepting the insurance money but refilling the airbag compartment with a cheap alternative. Approximately one in every 25 previously deployed airbags is replaced with nonworking systems, dummy airbags or trash, according to Carfax.com. In some cases, compartments were filled with trash, towels or packing peanuts. People driving a used car may not know whether their vehicle has been in a wreck, but a vehicle's history can be checked. Carfax said participating car dealers will give people free airbag checks and Carfax vehicle history reports this November.