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Why HPI Check?
So why do I need to
HPI Check my car? Well basically so that you know that it is actually your car.
375,000 cars are stolen each year. Many get sold on to unsuspecting buyers. If
you are one of them you will have to give the car back to its rightful owner and
the crook that sold it to you will be long gone with your cash.
1 in 12 cars checked by the trade last year showed mileage discrepancies. You
could buy car that is worth a fraction of what you pay for it. |
Over 450,000 cars are 'written-off' by insurers annually because of accident damage.
Many are written off because the insurance company deem it incapable of safe repair.
Make sure that you don't buy the one thats been sneaked back on the road again.
Also make sure that
there is no outstanding finance on your car.
HPI Check Question
What do the categories mean when is a car written off?
Answer:
Category A: Total burnout. No value left in the vehicle
Category B: Break only. Value lies in salvage
Category C: Damage to car is more than total value
of car
Category D: Repair would cost almost as much as the
vehicle is worth. Better to write off than repair. No comebacks for the insurers
WARNING - For people not considering an HPI check on their next
purchase
 On
Sunday 27th February ‘BBC 5 Live Investigates’ set to report that unwitting
used car buyers are being chased for large sums of money owed on loans taken out
by previous owners.
HPI is warning consumers to be vigilant on the risks of finance fraud and
get protection with the HPI Check.
The BBC 5 Live report suggests that car owners raising finance with logbook loans
secured on their vehicles are selling the vehicles before settling their accounts,
leaving buyers at risk of losing their cash - and the car.
Nicola Johnson, Consumer Services Manager for HPI explains, “We are increasingly
aware of this type of activity, and would advise buyers to always conduct an HPI
Check to discover if a vehicle is still on finance. HPI are the only provenance
check company that has the facility to register Bill of Sale agreements against
a vehicle, and if the buyer who was the focus of the 5 Live investigation had
checked her car with HPI before she had bought it, it would have revealed the
logbook loan recorded against it.
“If a vehicle is sold on, still with outstanding finance, the finance company
has every right to repossess the vehicle. Bill of Sale style agreements have no
innocent purchaser protection, unlike hire purchase-style agreements, and HPI
welcomes the government’s proposed code of practice on Bill of Sale agreements
which would help rectify this situation.
“Holding over 7million registered finance agreements including many ‘log book
loan’ type agreements, an HPI Check will inform the buyer of any finance interest
that has been registered with HPI by a lender and has not been subsequently removed.
Details of the loan type and the lender are contained within the HPI Check report,
enabling the enquirer to check the status of the finance agreement with the lender
if they feel that is necessary.”
The HPI Guarantee
Car buyers who buy a genuine HPI Check for themselves at hpicheck.com are also
protected by the HPI Guarantee * which protects customers for any loss on the
rare occasions where finance houses have not provided HPI with up to date data.
Nicola Johnson concludes, “The best way to avoid being a victim of finance fraud
is to conduct a history check with a reputable service such as HPI. Avoid cheap
history checks, as these do not include finance information. As with most things,
you will only get what you pay for.”
The HPI Guarantee
Guarantee summary
 At HPI, we work
hard to ensure that the data we receive and manage is the best available but no
data source is perfect. That's why your HPI vehicle check includes the HPI Guarantee.
Subject to the HPI Guarantee Terms & Conditions, the HPI Guarantee provides up
to £30,000 (£15,000 for written off vehicles) reimbursement of financial loss
you suffer arising from inaccurate or incomplete information we supply to you
as part of the HPI Check.
As you'd expect from HPI, the cover is the most comprehensive available today.
Here is a summary of the main conditions:
• You need to carry out the HPI Check yourself, before you buy the vehicle
- the Guarantee is not transferable.
• You must supply us with the Vehicle Registration Mark (VRM) and the Vehicle
Identification Number (VIN) to be eligible for maximum cover available under the
HPI Guarantee. The HPI Guarantee will not apply if we advise you that the VRM
does not match the VIN, so make sure the information you supply is accurate (pay
particular attention to '5's and 'S's, '2's and 'Z's).
• Before you buy the vehicle, you must make sure that all vehicle details
provided by HPI match both the vehicle and its accompanying paperwork, and notify
us of any discrepancies. As a minimum, you must obtain and check the V5 registration
document with us, using our Document Check facility, prior to purchase.
• You must check that all the VIN markings on the vehicle match each other
and the corresponding V5 registration document.
• You must keep and produce to us on request a written receipt for your purchase,
signed by the seller, containing the key information needed to identify the seller
and the vehicle (e.g. the seller's name and address, the identity and mileage
of the vehicle purchased, the date of purchase and the amount you paid).
• If you are buying the vehicle privately, you must buy it from the keeper,
at the address shown on the V5. You must also check the identity of the seller.
• You must buy the vehicle in a reasonably prudent manner (for example -
claims will not be considered if you have paid 30% below the retail market value).
• The cover provided is based on the car's value. In the case where HPI provides
incorrect data affecting vehicle title (such as theft or outstanding finance),
the HPI Guarantee will cover up to £30,000, either in compensation or the costs
needed to obtain good title to the vehicle (at HPI's discretion). In the case
where HPI provides incorrect data affecting the vehicle's condition, the HPI Guarantee
will cover up to £15,000 or 50% of the market value of the car, whichever is the
lower.
• The HPI Guarantee does not cover the vehicle's descriptive information
(including import status), mileage, value, V5 registration document checks, or
if the loss has arisen as a result of a fraudulent transaction.
• The HPI Guarantee is valid for two years from the date of the check.
• The vehicle must be bought and registered in mainland Britain (i.e. it
excludes Northern Ireland). If it has been imported, HPI does not guarantee its
history prior to arrival in this country.
• If you make a claim under the HPI Guarantee, we reserve the right to inspect
the vehicle and to make the final decision as to its condition and value.
You are advised to consult the full HPI Guarantee
Terms & Conditions for full details of the cover provided.
HPI
CHECK
1
in 3 cars has something to hide!
HPI aims to uncover the truth behind used cars, 1 in 3 of which have some form
of hidden history. We hold details of over 55 million cars nationwide, and can
inform you instantly of issues outstanding with your prospective vehicle purchase.
Click here to HPI Check a vehicle
HPI is the UK's leading independent information source for the motor, caravan
and marine industries.
What
if my HPI Check shows a problem?
If the car you want to buy turns out to have an undesirable history, the next
steps you take will depend on the problem that is uncovered. Here are examples
of potential problems and what actions could be taken next.
Stolen vehicle
If the vehicle comes up as stolen, you should not proceed with the purchase unless
HPI can give you the all clear. We will contact the police to check whether they
need to take any action and then let you know what will be happening.
Outstanding finance
HPI will provide details of the companies involved and give you a reference number
so you can contact them directly to discuss the outstanding finance agreement.
A settlement can usually be agreed between the seller, the finance house and the
purchaser.
Previous damage
If a vehicle appears on this register, it has been written-off by an insurance
company. If the damage occurred after 1996, HPI can tell you whether it is a category
'A' or 'B' write-off, which means it must never reappear on the road; or a category
'C' or 'D', which can be roadworthy following proper repair and inspection. If
the total loss is a result of a theft claim, we will contact the insurance company
on your behalf.
Inspection report
This register provides details of written-off vehicles that have been properly
repaired and have passed an independent Thatcham-approved structural examination.
HPI have access to all car accident history records and can usually provide a
copy of the original inspection for a fee.
Vehicle identity
This provides confirmation of details recorded by the manufacturer. If the description
supplied doesn't match the car or the V5 registration document, HPI will investigate
through the DVLA, on request.
Security watch
This is a register of vehicles that are high fraud or theft risks, such as rental
cars. If a vehicle appears on this register, HPI will pass your details to whoever
placed the security interest so that they can contact you for information regarding
the sale.
Number plate transfer
This will show every legitimate plate change since April 1990. You are advised
not to buy a car until it has been given the all clear under all its previous
plates.
VIN match
If the unique Vehicle Identification Number (VIN, also known as the chassis number)
on the vehicle doesn't match the V5 registration document, this may indicate that
it's either stolen or a ringer. If there is a discrepancy, HPI can investigate
and contact the police, if requested.
Document match
If your HPI used car check provides a warning on the issue date or serial number
of the V5 registration document, HPI can investigate the true status of the documentation
at no extra charge. If it turns out to be fraudulent, we will advise you to notify
the police.
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