The search for a new vehicle is exciting. When walking around a dealership, the many vehicles can stir your imagination.
However, you could rush to purchase a car that looks great but has a troublesome past. The answer to making sure you’re buying a legitimate vehicle that won’t cause you headaches later is an HPI check. It is a way of examining the vehicle’s history and background.
Below are a few reasons why you should conduct an HPI check when buying a used car.
To avoid outstanding debts
An HPI check reveals information on the outstanding finances of a used car. If the vehicle has outstanding debt, the finance company still owns it. When you buy such a car, the debt is transferred to you, and the finance company comes to you to finance it.
To discover its history
Many cars in a reputable dealership will often have an HPI check already conducted. However, if you’re buying from a private owner or find that something is amiss, an HPI check can give you the vehicle’s history and put your mind at ease. You can get the MOT history that you might not find on a VIN (Vehicle Identification Number) or history report.
From the HPI check at the DVLA database, you will discover the number of previous owners and their usage from the odometer.
For vehicle Identity
Every car seller gives a story of the vehicle. To ensure that the information is correct, an HPI check will reveal the vehicle’s identity. It includes the original color, plate number, model, make, door plan, and the current color. Usually, a plate number change may not be an issue to worry about, but it is worth being sure about the vehicle’s past.
To prevent the purchase of a stolen vehicle
Daily, almost 30 vehicles are reported stolen. They are added to the Police National Computer. You can’t trust a vehicle’s legitimacy if the V5 document accompanying it is among the stolen batches. An HPI will reveal if a car is stolen and cloned to disguise it as a legitimate one.
You can crosscheck information from the logbook, such as plate number, with that on the vehicle you’re purchasing. If the information doesn’t match, it isn’t legitimate, and the police have every right to seize it.
Establish that a vehicle was written-off and repaired reliably
Many vehicles that undergo an HPI check are usually written-off because of theft or severe damage from an accident. A scrapped vehicle will not always look like a wreck when you’re buying it. Once a car is written-off, driving it on the road becomes illegal.
It becomes challenging to make an insurance claim if the insurer did not have complete information on the vehicle’s status. If you’re purchasing a written-off car, an HPI check gives you proof that it was well-repaired and is now safe for driving.
Bottom line
There are several benefits of buying a used car, one of them being its affordability. However, you may lose the car and your money if you don’t use an HPI check to ensure its legitimacy. An HPI check gives you the complete history and identity of the vehicle.
You also discover the vehicle’s mileage, number of previous owners, number plate changes, and if there are any outstanding finances. It tells you if the seller is giving true or false information to help you make a more informed decision.
