How do I know if a car was a previous write off?

74jax

We purchased a car for DD 2 years ago from a dealer, no issues.
We are now looking to get a new one and got a quote from webuyanycar to compare with trade in etc. 
Webuyanycar asked for more information on when it was written off, 7 weeks after new, in 2015.
This was the first owner, we knew nothing about this and have checked the V5 and on the front page, at the bottom, nothing is mentioned there.
Where else should we check? 

Grumpy_chap

Did the supplying dealer provide an HPI check?

It is my understanding that any of the vehicle history checks will advise the write off status.

Flight3287462

If it is cat S or the old cat C it will be on your V5c.  Cat N or old Cat D won't be.

74jax

Grumpy_chap said:

Did the supplying dealer provide an HPI check?

It is my understanding that any of the vehicle history checks will advise the write off status.

Trying to hunt out the info when we bought it but struggling to find .....

We did an online check tonight (paid for) but it came back saying nothing reported via insurance companies or police.

Next thing is to speak to webuyanycar tomorrow but I wanted to have full info, just didn't know if I want looking in the right place.

It was 2 years ago, so not sure the dealer would keep any checks they did.... 

74jax

Hunyani_Flight_825 said:

If it is cat S or the old cat C it will be on your V5c.  Cat N or old Cat D won't be.

The only typed line on the front page, bottom section, is about first registration. Would it be somewhere else? 

Flight3287462

Under Special Notes on the front page.

justworriedabit

Highly unlikely it was a main dealer and this is just one of the reasons why one should by a newish car from a main dealer only. 

You may save a few quid on a 3/4 year old car from a side street garage but you won't get the service you'd get from a main dealer.

What was their exact wording re "write off and what cat"?

74jax

Hunyani_Flight_825 said:

Under Special Notes on the front page.

Thank you, no nothing there.

I'll call the Fiat dealership before I call webuyanycar back to see if they have any info from when we bought it, but most likely too long ago.

Hopefully then, webuyanycar will be able to tell me where they are pulling this info from.

HansOndabush

Just use Autotrader. Enter your car reg. and go through the first few screens as if you were going to sell it and it will tell you for free if there are any write off markers against it. All cars listed on Autotrader have write off category declared.

74jax

Just to update.
Spoke to the dealership purchased from - in fact the sales man too. He was fab and jumped on it straightaway.
He said as they are the dealer they are not allowed to sell any previous write offs so he said he needed it to rectified as I'd brought it to his attention.
He called me back within 10mins and has emailed me a HPI certificate and done  something I think he called a salvage check? Both clear.
Hopefully webuyanycar will accept this, if not, he gave me an acceptable price for it too (they are further away so I didn't think of them initially).
Thanks all ☺ 

Herzlos

That sounds right - a lot of bigger dealerships don't touch write-offs, because it's just not worth the hassle, so it must have passed an HPI when they got it.

It sounds like webuyanycar have got it wrong (wrong registration?) or are trying to do something funny to drop the price.

If the dealers offer is close to the WBAC offer I'd take it to the dealer - WBAC will charge you a buying fee and knock the figure down a bit.