Do a 2nd HPI check?

Negotiator

If buying a 2nd hand car from a main car dealer should I both doing a 2nd HPI check?

neilmcl

There's really no need from a main dealer.

Weird_Nev

No, I wouldn't bother beyond a £4 text check.

The HPi the dealer does can be verified directly with the HPi company, and comes with a certain amount of insurance attached to it.

If a dealer gets caught trying to pass on spurious cars, they're boned. They check them themselves before they take them in part-ex, because they don't want to lose valuable stock to a finance company or police investigation, just like you don't.

flashg67

Until recently, I'd have agreed, but my mate fell foul of a (very well) 'doctored' HPI report he relied on, and is now having to go to court to sort out his losses.

Weird_Nev

flashg67 wrote: »

Until recently, I'd have agreed, but my mate fell foul of a (very well) 'doctored' HPI report he relied on, and is now having to go to court to sort out his losses.

From a dealer, or a private seller?

Negotiator

The thing that I am worried about is I have heard stories of conflicting HPI check reports. The dealers HPI check is all clear, but when done on an Experian check it said the car was stolen.

Weird_Nev

Negotiator wrote: »

The thing that I am worried about is I have heard stories of conflicting HPI check reports. The dealers HPI check is all clear, but when done on an Experian check it said the car was stolen.

Often, if the car has been stolen/recovered, the report will stay "stolen" if the marker is not correctly wiped off. Sometimes I believe they stay there (if subject to claim, for example). But I'm no expert.

If the stolen report is from some time ago, i.e. years, then once I'd verified with HPi that the exact meaning of the check, I'd be ok with that.

If however, there is any suspicion of duplicitous dealing whatsoever, then walk away.

bigadaj

Interesting thread, was going to post a similar query. I've put a small deposit on a 9 year old focus from a small dealer, they're putting though an mot and servicing it before I pick it up but think I'll pop back before and ask them for a copy as doing when picking up and paying the balance could get a but rushed.