| Ever since the UK has had a second-hand car | | | | cross-refers a vehicle's details against these |
| market of any appreciable size, a company called | | | | records. |
| HPI has been protecting innocent would-be car | | | | ‘Clocked' vehicles – While a car's mileage |
| buyers from becoming unwitting victims of car | | | | can be reasonably verified by checking against the |
| crime. It works alongside car makers, dealers and | | | | mileages shown on past MoT test certificates, an |
| other sellers to help tell the public more about the | | | | increasing number of forged certificates in |
| history of the vehicle which they are interested in | | | | circulation can provide misleading information to a |
| buying. HPI checks are available for a flat fee can | | | | potential buyer. |
| be ordered online, carried out easily and quickly, | | | | ‘Cloned' vehicles – This is where a stolen |
| thanks to modern computer technology. | | | | car is given the identity of one already in |
| A HPI check examines whether a vehicle might | | | | existence to cover up its past history. |
| be subject to any of the following, which can | | | | Unscrupulous sellers will try to cover up or erase |
| cause a new owner potentially huge problems, | | | | signs of the true identity of a vehicle which may |
| and cost them a large amount of money. | | | | have a dodgy past. |
| Outstanding finance – If a loan is not paid off | | | | Vehicle identity – When is a GTi not a GTi? |
| by the previous owner when they sell the car, | | | | When it's a lower-specified model in disguise! An |
| the new owner could have the car repossessed, | | | | original registration document issued by the DVLA |
| or be ordered to pay the amount outstanding on | | | | confirms a vehicle's true identity using details such |
| it. HPI scans a database containing details of more | | | | as date of registration, current colour (along with |
| than seven million current finance arrangements, | | | | any changes), engine size and transmission type. |
| and will flag up whether a car has outstanding | | | | It also details the number of previous owners, and |
| payments owing on it. | | | | details of its most recent owner. |
| Stolen vehicles – Running checks with the | | | | A HPI Check, which can be ordered online, will |
| police and Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency | | | | confirm whether a vehicle has any of the above |
| (DVLA) pinpoints whether a vehicle has been | | | | skeletons in its cupboard, allowing officially-held |
| reported stolen, and whether there has been any | | | | details to be verified against a vehicle's current |
| outcome of a search for a stolen vehicle. | | | | condition. This safeguards the interests of the |
| Write-offs – While many damaged cars can | | | | motorist and helps dealers meet their legal |
| be easily returned to the road, many sustain | | | | obligations. |
| damage which is beyond economical repair, i.e. | | | | If you are struggling to find the ammount of |
| those repairs would cost more than the car's | | | | money for purchasing a car then perhaps consider |
| current market value. The Association of British | | | | trying to buy a car on finance, there are many |
| Insurers keeps a record of all write-offs as well | | | | vehicles and deals for any situation such as car |
| as coding all authorised repairs according to the | | | | finance for people with bad credit too. |
| severity of the damage sustained. A HPI check | | | | |