Buying a car that was once stolen

grey_lady

Ran one of those mycarcheck.com checks on a car that we're looking to buy, it came back that the car was stolen 15 years ago - it didnt mention if the car had been recovered.

Ran a second check on hpicheck.com that came back clear. We called our local police who said all they would be able to check is the same as the hpi check.

Any thoughts? this was a long time ago, the car has been through a few owners since, we've seen the v5 and the address on it matches up with where the current owner lives - obviously we could check that the VIN/reg and engine number all match up with what's on the v5 and hpicheck.com will do a guarantee, that if they turn out to be wrong they will pay back what they think the car is worth if we supply them with the vin number and some details off the v5 (this guarantee wont cost us anymore than what the check did)

Gene_Hunt_2

I can't remember how long a stolen report lasts, 10 or 15 years comes to mind. If the HPI and PNC are clear then it should be ok to buy.

atrixblue.-MFR-.

sounds to me if its a stolen recovered, years ago evidently. i dont think you have anything to wory about.

forgotmyname

Do a proper HPI check which comes with a guarantee.

Cheap checks are a waste of money.

grey_lady

The stolen marker was put on 15 years ago by an insurance company - not a stolen/recovered marker - does that make a difference? the HPI check was clear because HPI and Experian dont display that marker on their sites.

From mycarcheck ") HPI has a licence to receive DVLA data as do Experian (Autocheck.co.uk), CDL (mycarcheck.com) and a couple of others. All of these providers will receive the same information. HPI is no more linked to DVLA than the others.

2) HPI might have been providing data checks for longer than the others but that doesn't make them the 'national database'. They are a private company and provide services in the same way as Experian and CDL.

3) The stolen recovered marker is available to all data check providers, however HPI and Experian choose not to display it. It is a legitimate marker placed on a vehicle by an insurance company and we feel that this should be passed on to our customers. It is then up to the customer to decide whether this influences their purchasing decision."

bengalknights

If its been 15 years i would say it was pretty safe to purchase as it would have shown up on countless ANPR cameras if it was still stolen.It sounds more like its stolen/recovered.

grey_lady

According to the hpi check - its not currently registered as stolen on the police's pnc database.
According to mycarcheck it once had a stolen marker placed on it by an insurance company - not a stolen/recovered marker, that's what's confusing me.

bengalknights

Sounds like the owner reported it stolen then found the car and told the police it was no longer stolen.

diable

Its a 15 year old car the HPI check will most probably cost more than the car unless its James Bonds Aston Martin......