Car Data Check

Paying for to have a vehicle checked by a formal search before you buy can be a wise investment.

It can potentially saving you thousands of pounds if you’re tempted to buy a car which later turns out to have been written off, stolen or had its identity altered.

A check by a firm such as HPI or the AA can uncover a vehicle’s hidden history. According to www.hpicheck.com one in 12 cars checked by the trade show mileage discrepancies.

It says that more than 375,000 vehicles are reported stolen or missing each year in the UK. Many have their identities altered and are then sold. If you buy one of these vehicles, it could be taken off you and returned to the rightful owner.

A quarter of a million vehicles are written off each year after accidents. But these are often illegally repaired and resold – many in a dangerous condition.

Some two-thirds of all new vehicles are bought on finance. If you buy one where the finance is not settled – even without realising it – you could end up having to pay the outstanding debt.