HPI CHECK

[jonsea]

Hi need a bit of help looking at a camper tomorrow, I done a mot check, what does a HPI check bring up thanks in advance john

 

[Spriddler]

It tells you if it is on finance and therefore owned by the lender (who is not necessarily the seller).

 

[NobbyB]

A straightforward one I use is Totalcarcheck. I used it on both our previous camper and the recent motorhome. Its not very expensive and might just throw something up you might like to know about. Good luck with your purchase.

 

[hymerman]

Well worth the cost.
Checks if stolen , finance outstanding , insurance write off and fixed.
Last one I did cost about £20 for one or £25 for 5 checks.
Don't leave too long between the check and purchase as finance could be taken out on the van in the interim period.

 

[Campervan_man]

www.mycarcheck.com

Print the mycarcheck form and ask the seller to sign the receipt.

Do remember that accidents only show up if the repair was done through insurance.
Accidents that don't go through insurance won't show up on any check.
Buy the vehicle from the address on the V5 logbook or ask to see their driving licence etc which will have their address on.

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[Simon Select]

Send me a PM with the details and I will run a full HPI for you. I won't charge as your a Funster. It costs me 2 pence.
Our HPI will tell:
If the vehicle is a write off
Stolen
Has finance oustanding
Clocked miles
Correct plates

 

[34127]

There have been discussions on this forum in the past that has highlighted issues relating to HPI checks and it would be worth researching online to find out the facts. If you are buying from a dealer then pay some of it on a credit card so that you have some protection. One issue raised previously on this forum was about someone who bought from a dealer and that dealer soon afterwards went bust and there was outstanding dealer stock finance on the vehicle and and the finance company asked for the vehicle back.

edit: it has been mentioned in previous thread that a log book loan may not show up on an HPI check.

 

[sweetie]

But HPI is unable to tell if vehicle is a clone. I bought a transit van 25 year ago and after having it for 2 years had a visit from police because another van with same registration had been stopped owned by council, so you can guess who had cloned vehicle. Even the engine number was cloned. Luckily for me as there was no identification left on van who was previous owner I was allowed to keep it and DVLA issued new registration.

 

[Simon Select]

Thought it would be useful to show you what info we get. I won't show the Vin or the Reg as its a customers van.
If I am buying anything I will run a HPI!

 

[Coolcats]

It tells you if it is on finance and therefore owned by the lender (who is not necessarily the seller).

Indeed it does, if you buy from a main dealer their stock is normally owned by a finance house so HPI check is worth every penny, never buy a vehicle without one.

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[Simon Select]

Indeed it does, if you buy from a main dealer their stock is normally owned by a finance house so HPI check is worth every penny, never buy a vehicle without one.

Not strictly correct. You won't be able to HPI a brand new van as it won't be on the DVLA register. It can take up to four weeks to show with DVLA. If it does not show on their database then there is no vin or reg to use for HPI.

 

[Coolcats]

Not strictly correct. You won't be able to HPI a brand new van as it won't be on the DVLA register. It can take up to four weeks to show with DVLA. If it does not show on their database then there is no vin or reg to use for HPI.

This is true thank you for the correction, I guess with that one should check out the financial status of the company you are buying a new vehicle from because if they are going to go bust you do not want them to go down with your money. So who in that instance should a customer pay the manufacturer or the dealer or the dealers finance house.

 

[Simon Select]

This is true thank you for the correction, I guess with that one should check out the financial status of the company you are buying a new vehicle from because if they are going to go bust you do not want them to go down with your money. So who in that instance should a customer pay the manufacturer or the dealer or the dealers finance house.

That's a safer way. If you look at Howards, the figures are impressive and you can clearly see we are fine. Others you can see from accounts its hand to mouth.
I do want to add, there are nothing wrong with credit lines (Forecourt Funding) if used properly. If a manufacturer offers me 0% for instance on a couple of million quids worth of vans then I will absolutely use it!

 

[Spriddler]

I recall that in one deal my money was paid not to the seller himself but into the seller's Escrow account which had some conditions/safeguards, offering a degree of protection.

 

[Coolcats]

That's a safer way. If you look at Howards, the figures are impressive and you can clearly see we are fine. Others you can see from accounts its hand to mouth.
I do want to add, there are nothing wrong with credit lines (Forecourt Funding) if used properly. If a manufacturer offers me 0% for instance on a couple of million quids worth of vans then I will absolutely use it!

Sorry I was not questioning your business, however having profiles business in the past there are some that you would think are fine but are risky to do business with ( all industry's) the same should apply for a consumer who is passing a chunk of money they need to be sure it isn’t going into a black hole.

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[Simon Select]

Sorry I was not questioning your business, however having profiles business in the past there are some that you would think are fine but are risky to do business with ( all industry's) the same should apply for a consumer who is passing a chunk of money they need to be sure it isn’t going into a black hole.

I know you were were not, I was quoting Howards in case anyone wanted to do some due diligance, its interesting to look at some companies (I am forever checking out my competition!)
I think at the end of the day, whether private/ dealer etc, if it does not feel right then walk away.
I have bought from dealers, I have bought privately, I have part exchanged my own personal vehicles and haven't yet been burned. However I do this all day everyday and not only is it my job, its also a passion, equally if I go to view a van. I have so many tools available which does help.
Unfortunately there are assholes out there. I have had customers who are quite frankly liars they have told me vans are perfect and turn up with bumpers smashed in, full or damp etc. I have had dealers do the same.
However these are rare, the vast majority of people (Dealer or private) I deal with are fine.
There are lots of things to look out for though and MHF is a great resource for what to look out for.

You never know, I could have just come up with a new business idea, I could come along for every vehicle purchase/ sale and just handle it lol. On a serious note, if anyone from Fun ever wants advice or for me to look over figures/ HPI/ check a part exchange price, I am only ever a PM away!

Si

 

[tribalbrit]

Few years ago I took a Range Rover to local dealer, they looked the car over offered me an amount that I was happy with and I accepted.
We went into the office and the guy says " I'll just have to do an HPI Check". I had owned the car for 7 years and was only the second keeper.
Once the check came through, guy says "Oh dear I cant buy the car as It has flagged up as stolen", obviously I knew it wasn't. The report also said to contact Hampshire Police,
I returned home, not to happy and phoned Hampshire police, they had nothing on record.
So I phoned the dealer, who informed me that was what the HPI said but wouldn't tell me anymore and that I would have to do my own HPI check. I phoned HPI, told them the story to which they replied we can not discuss it with you as you did not pay for the HPI check and if I wanted the information I would have to pay £20. I replied that I had owned the car for 7 years and knew dam well it had not been stolen and that they were telling people it had and preventing me from selling it. " £20 or no information" was the reply. After much more arguing I begrudgingly paid the £20 and immediately received the HPI check.
Guess what it had not been stolen as I knew. Before I bought it, it had a personal plate on. The subsequent car that plate was assigned to had been stolen, also a Range Rover. Nothing to do with my car at all.
I phoned HPI to explain this to which they said, "we cant discuss this with you as it's not your car".
Nor could I get my money back for a report I didn't need.

Moral of the storey HPI not all it's cracked up to be IMO.

 

[jonsea]

Send me a PM with the details and I will run a full HPI for you. I won't charge as your a Funster. It costs me 2 pence.
Our HPI will tell:
If the vehicle is a write off
Stolen
Has finance oustanding
Clocked miles
Correct plates

Thanks for your offer sorry about delay I done it my self printed it all of and it looks ok so will look at it tomorrow once again thanks to all for your replys john

 

[pappajohn]

Unless things have changed in recent years, HPI results are gauranteed (even they can make mistakes) but ONLY if you have the current V5 serial number.
You would need to see, and note, the number on the sellers V5 BEFORE buying.

 

[Crazylegs]

Reputable dealers should be happy to show a purchaser a copy of the hpi report, they obviously check out vehicles before they buy them in. Just like private buyers they need to know the details of what they are going to purchase, in some cases they have to settle outstanding finance as part of the transaction.

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[Coolcats]

Few years ago I took a Range Rover to local dealer, they looked the car over offered me an amount that I was happy with and I accepted.
We went into the office and the guy says " I'll just have to do an HPI Check". I had owned the car for 7 years and was only the second keeper.
Once the check came through, guy says "Oh dear I cant buy the car as It has flagged up as stolen", obviously I knew it wasn't. The report also said to contact Hampshire Police,
I returned home, not to happy and phoned Hampshire police, they had nothing on record.
So I phoned the dealer, who informed me that was what the HPI said but wouldn't tell me anymore and that I would have to do my own HPI check. I phoned HPI, told them the story to which they replied we can not discuss it with you as you did not pay for the HPI check and if I wanted the information I would have to pay £20. I replied that I had owned the car for 7 years and knew dam well it had not been stolen and that they were telling people it had and preventing me from selling it. " £20 or no information" was the reply. After much more arguing I begrudgingly paid the £20 and immediately received the HPI check.
Guess what it had not been stolen as I knew. Before I bought it, it had a personal plate on. The subsequent car that plate was assigned to had been stolen, also a Range Rover. Nothing to do with my car at all.
I phoned HPI to explain this to which they said, "we cant discuss this with you as it's not your car".
Nor could I get my money back for a report I didn't need.

Moral of the storey HPI not all it's cracked up to be IMO.

As a buyer I would always use HPI, mistakes are made in all industries as they say Stuff happens

 

[Simon Select]

Well you wouldn’t buy a house without getting a survey.

 

[Cheshirecat57]

Unless things have changed in recent years, HPI results are gauranteed (even they can make mistakes) but ONLY if you have the current V5 serial number.
You would need to see, and note, the number on the sellers V5 BEFORE buying.

Heres a complication that has been added ( accidental consequence of other legislation)
The dealer is actually NOT ALLOWED to show you the existing V5 if it is in someone’s name other than theirs under some sections of the GDPR legislation........make of that what you will

 

[The Wino]

Well you wouldn’t buy a house without getting a survey.

Actually we have with the last 4. The solicitors still check the local searches etc. I got tired of reports that just suggest other reports and investigation and say they couldn't check loads of stuff as the carpets were fitted etc

 

[Simon Select]

Unless things have changed in recent years, HPI results are gauranteed (even they can make mistakes) but ONLY if you have the current V5 serial number.
You would need to see, and note, the number on the sellers V5 BEFORE buying.

Just a reg number and mileage now.

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[Simon Select]

Heres a complication that has been added ( accidental consequence of other legislation)
The dealer is actually NOT ALLOWED to show you the existing V5 if it is in someone’s name other than theirs under some sections of the GDPR legislation........make of that what you will

You can always cover the address, I have no issue with my guys showing it. As long as the name and address are covered.