True stories
Buying a used vehicle is a big decision, one full of potential pitfalls and risks. Highlighted below are just a selection of people that avoided a potential disaster thanks to the HPI Check.
"I was shocked to discover that the Citroen Saxo had an unpaid loan still owing to the finance company."
HPI customer 'A' from Bristol, recalls his experiences of an HPI Check:
"My wife found the perfect car for our daughter using an Intranet service at work. We contacted the vendor and were pleased to discover the 'R' reg Citroen Saxo was for sale at a reasonable price. As the car was located in York, we decided to do an HPI Check before travelling the long distance to view the vehicle. Working in the trade, I was aware of car crime and wanted to make sure that the vehicle was legal. Fortunately, taking full advantage of the HPI service, we discovered the information relating to the outstanding car finance agreement. Without HPI, my wife and I may have bought the Saxo only to discover that we did not legitimately own it. As it was, we came to a mutual agreement with the vendor and the finance house and completed the sale."
"The car had been written off by an insurance company back in 1996."
HPI customer 'C' from Oxfordshire bought a Citroen AX over the Internet. After taking it to a garage who quoted expensive repairs, she checked the car with HPI. She told us:
"The car had a full service history and seemed in good order. However, on taking it to a garage, it transpired that quite a bit of mechanical work was needed. A second opinion at another garage revealed that the car had previously been in an accident. It was then recommended that I should conduct an HPI vehicle check. I couldn't believe it when they confirmed that the car had been 'written-off' by an insurance company back in 1996. I returned to the person who sold it to me to try to get some compensation, but to no avail. An agreement was made with the garage and following adequate repairs I was able to keep the car, but I would certainly not purchase another used car without first contacting HPI."
"The V5 was one of a batch that had been stolen from the DVLA. Even worse, the car was a ringer."
HPI customer 'D' from Darlington recalls how he avoided being fooled by false documents:
"I had advertised my car for sale and a potential buyer contacted me offering a Land Rover Freelander in exchange. I was interested in the proposition and agreed to meet him outside my home. I had a look at the Freelander and was impressed by its good condition and took it for a test drive. Pleased with the results, I asked to see all the documentation including the MOT certificate and the V5 registration document. For some reason my suspicions were aroused and I decided to call HPI to check the car registration, who confirmed that the V5 was one of a batch that had been stolen from the DVLA. Even worse, the car was a ringer - its identity had been changed to match that of a legitimate vehicle - and the stolen V5 was being used as part of the fraud."
"It was almost certain that the car had been 'clocked' by at least 8,000 miles."
HPI customer 'E' from Hampshire tells of his relief that he had an HPI Check done:
"With a budget of £5,000, I read through various magazines looking for my ideal car. I saw one in particular that I really liked and went to the dealer to view it. It was here that I saw another car on the forecourt that really took my fancy, a Mercedes C Class. I decided that although the cost was way outside my original budget, at £9,000, this was the car for me. The mileage was very low compared to the age of the car and as there were no past MOT documents to help verify the actual mileage, I conducted an HPI Check. I'm so glad I did because HPI confirmed there was a mileage discrepancy. Naturally, I didn't buy the car - it was just too risky! I would definitely recommend carrying out an HPI vehicle data check to anyone who is looking to buy a used car."