10 million cars could have a murky past

HPI, the vehicle information expert, warns that there could be up to 10.4 million cars with a hidden history on the UK's roads. This follows news from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) that there has been a 9 per cent increase in cars in the UK to 31,362,716. With 1 in 3 cars hitting HPI's 'at risk' registers the SMMT figures suggest that the nearly new and second hand car market is a minefield for buyers.

Outstanding finance remains a very real threat when buying a used car, as many don’t realise that the debt stays with the vehicle. If the debt remains unpaid, it will leave the new owner at risk of losing the car and the money they paid for it, if the finance company decides to reclaim the vehicle. With 1 in 4 cars checked with HPI confirmed to be on outstanding finance, this could mean there may be up to 7.8 million cars that are still on finance on the roads.

The HPI Check uses the UK’s most comprehensive financial agreement database to confirm if a car is still on finance or not, enabling consumers to buy with confidence.

Fake ID?

Over 6.2 million cars on the roads could have had a plate change, if the car parc follows the trend seen by HPI, with 1 in 5 vehicles hitting HPI’s plate change register. This usually reveals an innocent personalised plate, but fraudsters can use a change of plates to hide the identity of a stolen car or an insurance write-off. An HPI Check report matches the vehicle registration number (VRM) with the vehicle’s chassis number (VIN) to make sure they’re registered with each other.

Mileage clocking is another risk; 5 in 100 cars checked with HPI have a mileage discrepancy, which could equate to over 1,500,000 cars on the UK roads. Dodgy sellers use clocking as an easy way to increase the price of their vehicle. Not knowing the true mileage could also mean there’s a risk of missing critical maintenance tasks, such as full servicing that include important part replacements. The HPI Check service uses the National Mileage Register (NMR), featuring over 150 million records, to ensure that a car’s mileage does not feature any discrepancies.

Finally, HPI reveals that 4 in 100 cars it checks have been declared an insurance write-off – otherwise known as a total loss.  This could translate to over 1,250,000 cars on UK roads today. Buyers need to beware of shiny paintwork hiding a dangerous level of damage or inadequate repairs, making it unfit to be on the road. The HPI Check report will confirm if a vehicle is a write-off, helping buyers spot a true bargain and avoid buying a nightmare on wheels.