Newly passed drivers
HPI is advising students and newly passed drivers buying a used vehicle for the start of term to be cautious and not rush into any purchase – no matter how cheap – as they could end up buying more then they bargained for. With 1 in 3 vehicles checked by HPI having some form of hidden history, we urge anyone starting university who is thinking of buying a used car to take a few simple precautions first. A car history check will tell you is the car your about ti by is: Stolen Every day hundreds of vehicles are stolen across the UK, a large number of which are sold on to unsuspecting buyers. Unfortunately, a student who buys a stolen vehicle is likely to lose both the vehicle and their money as it is still the property of the owner. As well as informing the purchaser if a vehicle has been stolen, the HPI Check includes a stolen V5C document check as standard, which will confirm it is not from a batch which were stolen from the DVLA in 2006. Outstanding Finance 1 in 4 vehicles checked by HPI are still subject to an outstanding finance agreement. Those who buy a car which is still on finance have unwittingly bought a vehicle that is still owned by the finance company, who could claim it back at any time until the outstanding amount is settled. In addition to this, a student who tries to sell on a vehicle that has finance outstanding is breaking the law – even if they had no knowledge of the agreement, as they are not the legal owner of the vehicle (the finance company is). Write-off A car may look shiny and new, but the paintwork might be hiding a vehicle that has been declared an insurance write-off. Whilst some of these can be repaired safely and returned to the road, others are only fit for scrap. The HPI Check not only identifies if a car has been written-off, but also which category of write-off, helping buyers make an informed decision about the purchase. Clocked With modern digital odometers now commonplace, clocking a vehicle to alter its mileage has never been easier for criminals to add hundreds, or even thousands, of pounds to its asking price as the traditional tell-tale signs of damage to the odometer will not be visible. The HPI Check will check a vehicle’s mileage against the National Mileage Register, which contains over 135 million mileage records and will inform a buyer if there is a mileage discrepancy. If you would like more information on a car history check, visit us at www.hpicheck.com.
BBC's Watchdog focuses on Clocking
HPI works closely with BBC to expose fraudsters and protect consumers We joined forces with BBC Watchdog journalists to help uncover a clocking scam, which was making a fraudster posing as Ashley Singh and his brother thousands of pounds per sale. With 1 in 20 cars checked by HPI showing mileage discrepancies it is essential that used car buyers stay vigilant and protect themselves from the risk of unscrupulous vendors.