Looking to buy a small, used car. Help!

Thurrafork

Thanks Grumpy_chap for your solid advice here!
I'm wondering about the Vehicle History Check...
On that AutoTrader page with the the Fiesta I linked to, it mentions a basic 5 point check, but if I click on 'Buy A Full Vehicle Check' it says 'Sorry, we do not have enough information on this vehicle. Please try a different vehicle.'
Is that in itself evidence of something dodgy?
I tried that reg on other vehicle history sites and there seems to be good information available, although the RAC site says 'There is no DVLA registration for this plate' - which doesn't sound very reassuring. But as I say, other sites seem to be able to find the info.
I don't know. What does it all mean?!

Grumpy_chap

I cannot give much advise about car history checks other than the only one I trust is HPI Check.  It costs a bit more than some others but I feel is worth it.
I have never had the results returned that you have so cannot comment on what they mean.  Hopefully someone else here will be able to advise.
The .gov check tax and MOT matches, but do verify as well.

Grumpy_chap

I just thought, as your question has now evolved to one very different from title to one about car history checks, you may get more relevant responses if you create a new thread to ask the new question.  It won't harm to reference and link this thread for completeness, but will allow the query to be seen more easily by those with the appropriate knowledge.

Mercdriver

Grumpy_chap said:

I just thought, as your question has now evolved to one very different from title to one about car history checks, you may get more relevant responses if you create a new thread to ask the new question.  It won't harm to reference and link this thread for completeness, but will allow the query to be seen more easily by those with the appropriate knowledge.

No, I would keep it within this thread.  Otherwise you will end up with parallel discussions in both.

Thurrafork

Thanks for the recommendations of HPI Check Grumpy_chap.
Well, if keeping things within this thread is ok.... Any other thoughts, folks?

[Deleted User]

I'd recommend vcar check as an HPI check won't show up cars that have been smashed up, sold at auction, and repaired without going through the insurance e.g without being written off.

Grumpy_chap

Hello Jamie,
Did you manage to get to see the Fiesta today?

Thurrafork

No, I did the HPI check and it threw up some ambiguous but sufficiently cautionary 'Fraud' warnings about the number plate.
Also, the advert on Autotrader said 1 Previous Owner, whereas the HPI check discovered there were 3!
Shame - but I'm glad I paid for the check! Thanks for recommending that checking service!

cymruchris

jamieboo said:

No, I did the HPI check and it threw up some ambiguous but sufficiently cautionary 'Fraud' warnings about the number plate.
Also, the advert on Autotrader said 1 Previous Owner, whereas the HPI check discovered there were 3!
Shame - but I'm glad I paid for the check! Thanks for recommending that checking service!

Reference 'Caution' on number plates - it is 99 percent due to the fact that the car at some time has had a private plate attached to it. (It may even still have it attached) Nothing to worry about there.

Thurrafork

Thanks for the info cymruchris. So is there any way to check the private plate thing?
The HPI check says, in the report summary:
'Fraud Guard: Incomplete!'
'According to our records, this license plate is not currently associated with any vehicle'
(I do find that kind of baffling, for the only information I entered for them to do the test IS the license plate! So if there's no vehicle associated with it, how did they find such an abundance of information about the vehicle?)
But yeah, the number plate thing, do you really think this is not sufficient reason to strike the car from my options list?
What about the discovery that it has actually had 3 previous owners, whereas Autotrader states it has only had 1?