Cars involved in CAT C or CAT D what to look for

angelnas

I recently purchased but not as yet paid for a Peugeot 107, 55 reg (Nov 2005) and only done 400 miles for £4,600. The guy had said it was HPI clear but I decided to do a check anyway prior to collecting and paying.

The report listed it as still being on Finance and surprisingly a CAT C insurance write-off as of (Dec 2005). So basically the car was barely a month old from new. the guy phoned later on asking why i had not come to collect, and I told him about the HPI report and he said I had explained about the finance thing and that it is being sorted but the CAT C is impossible as he claims he bought the car in January 2006 with 20 miles on the clock, yet your stating that it was a CAT C in December. I have never seen any of his documentation as yet as I never collected and plus he stated he only had the V5 doc and nothing esle as the documentation was kept by his wife and she was no longer in the country. But he would try to find everything.

He claims he is going to check it out with the dealer on Monday about the finance and the CAT C and provide proof and get back to me.

I believe either it suffered an accident and it was repaired and he hadnt thought I would do a check on it, since he had maintained it was HPI clear. Or he was sold the motor without knowing the history which is unlikely a peugeot dealer would do this.

What I want to know is, if any car that is reported in CAT D or CAT C is a new V5 registration doc issued? Does it have anything mentioned on the doc or is the doc any different to the original one.

Many thanks

Astaroth

No, a new V5 isnt issued if the same owner retains the vehicle after it is declared a total loss and to the best of my knowledge the V5/ V5c does not carry any note to say that it has been declared a total loss.

Does he state that he bought the car from new? Was it second hand? Ex-courtesy car? Test drive car?

angelnas

Car was new as of Nov 2005. HPI report lists it as CAT C in Dec 2005. He purchased it in Jan 2006 at 20miles for his wife. His wife is the only owner but I havent seen any documents as I didnt go to collect in Lancs as I reside in Dundee. So i only have his word on it as I have only discussed this on the phone.

Astaroth

So he is claiming he bought it as new rather than say as an ex test drive vehicle?

It does seem a little odd that a vehicle that has been registered and allegidly never driven be a total loss. Did the HPI check that you did require you to give just the vehicle registration or also the VIN? I know that when I used to search MIAFTR that we required both but if it is only registration then there is of cause the possibility of the person who loaded it onto miaftr made a keying error.

Having not bought a second hand car since the likes of routine HPI checks came about I dont know how much information you get. I know that when we, as an insurer, do the checks it will include the details of the insurer including claim reference that loaded it onto the system so we were always able to contact the other insurer (if it wasnt us) and getting details of the incident.