Car repaired after accident and not reported to the insurance.

marlot

Memamem wrote: »

I did ask the dealer if it had been in an accident, I'm not that stupid, but his answer was no...The dealer told me that they wouldn't sell cars that have been repaired after a serious accident

If it were me I'd return it.

Nasqueron

Memamem wrote: »

I'm not saying the dealer is lying..

If the previous owner hasn't gone through her insurance, then no-one is going to know about the accident. I wouldn't have known if it wasn't for the papers in the car..

If there was major structural damage then it's highly unlikely the insurer would not be used as someone wouldn't be able to afford to repair it (and if they could, why not buy a new car?).


The problem is you're assuming it should be a write off and thus be on the check, but if it wasn't a write off and the car was repaired to be as good as new, what is the issue?

marlot

Memamem wrote: »

...I think the car that I have purchased was in an accident and should now be a Category S car but the HPI is clear....

It seems clear it was in an accident. It might even have had structural repairs. But that doesn't mean that it was ever written off. If the insurance company repair the car it doesn't go onto any register.


A write off is only if the insurer decides not to repair the car, and sells it on as salvage.


The best way forward is to ring the repairer and get an idea of what was done, then decide if you want to keep it.

Memamem

I’m not assuming it should have been written off. When I queried this with the dealer I purchased the car from, he said to me “well, if that is the case, the car should be a Category S and your V5 will tell you that”. The HPI check would have told me that but it was clear. I spoke to the DVLA on Thursday and they told me that if the previous owner had gone through their insurance and it was repaired, it would be a Category S. I’m going off what I have been told, NOT assuming.

chrisw

The DVLA have told you wrong or there is some misunderstanding somewhere.

Joe_Horner

First things first, the "new" categories of S & N have only been in operation since October last year. When are the papers you have dated? If it's before that then anything that was recorded would have been done under the old "C" and "D" categories which don't tell you anything about whether it was structural or non-structural damage.

Next, a category will ONLY get recorded if the car is written off by the insurers. That's why they're called write-off categories. If the insurers decided to repair then there'll be no category recorded anywhere.

Finally, what exactly do these "papers relating to a car being repaired..." specify? It would be normal for any paperwork to at very least have the registration and details of the car concerned and some details of what was involved!

Aretnap

Memamem wrote: »

I’m not assuming it should have been written off. When I queried this with the dealer I purchased the car from, he said to me “well, if that is the case, the car should be a Category S and your V5 will tell you that”. The HPI check would have told me that but it was clear. I spoke to the DVLA on Thursday and they told me that if the previous owner had gone through their insurance and it was repaired, it would be a Category S. I’m going off what I have been told, NOT assuming.

It sounds like you have either been misinformed or you have misunderstood what you were told.

Category S is a WRITE OFF category. By definition, it only applies to vehicles which have been written off. It is quite possible for a vehicle to suffer significant structural damage and still be economical to repair. In that case there would be no cat S marker and indeed no record at all of the repair which was accessible to you - regardless of whether it was done through insurance.

flashg67

+1 for the DVLA misinforming or you misunderstanding.

I had a car that was shunted quite heavily from behind, Driver, (my OH) suffered injuries and we had a hire for about 6 weeks, but the car was repaired, looked and felt as good as before the accident.
As already said, it only gets recorded if it's written off, and this would (should!) come up on any HPI check.
I'd guess there are 100's of thousands of heavily repaired cars running around that are perfectly fine & safe.
You could get it checked by a bodyshop if you're concerned

debtdebt

Why do you think the car was not reported to the insurance? If they fixed it and handed it back to the previous owner, there won't be a Cat marker on it as I wasn't written off.

The selling dealer won't know as it won't show up on any HPI report.

You should have paid for a pre purchase inspection.

loskie

If you were clearly told "no it hasn't been in an accident" then use your consumer rights and reject it.
Maybe the dealer didn't know, maybe they did we'll never know.

If you keep it it sounds like you will never be at ease with the car which is understandable.
You may have legal cover with your insurance (house or car), Union or breakdown cover provider you could always ask them for advice.
If the HPI was done by the garage and not you I am not sure what protection that gives you.
Did you pay any of the car by credit card?
Good luck let us know how you get on.