Buying a used car can be a minefield. In the first instance, there are so many to choose from \u2013 especially if you are looking to buy one of the more popular models \u2013 and then, you have the choice of whether to buy from a private seller or from a dealer.<\/p>\n

Either can be a source of a great buy \u2013 a bargain, even, if you happen to be lucky \u2013 but there are still some pitfalls that can occur. What you must do before you commit to the purchase is have the car subject to an HPI check. What is this all about?<\/p>\n

What is an HPI Check?<\/strong><\/p>\n

An HPI check is a thorough check into the history of a car \u2013 or indeed of any used vehicle you may be interested in buying. It can be applied to vehicles bought from a dealer or from a private vendor.<\/p>\n

Any used car you are looking at will have been given a good clean and possibly even a valet, yet while it may look fresh and superb, there can be hidden problems beyond those visible to eye.<\/p>\n

Before we go on to tell you what your HPI check will tell you, here\u2019s a warning: if you find someone offering a free HPI check<\/a> you should beware. These will not be as comprehensive as the official HPI check<\/a> which can only be provided by HPIcheck.com. There is a small fee, but it is well worth the peace of mind as you will discover the comprehensive history of the vehicle, including the following:<\/p>\n

Outstanding Finance \u2013 <\/strong>if the car was bought by a previous owner using finance \u2013 hire purchase or a loan or any other credit agreement \u2013 the lender officially and legally owns the vehicle until the full amount has been paid. If you buy a car \u2013 even unknowingly \u2013 with outstanding finance, it can be reclaimed from you, with no recompense due.<\/p>\n

Write-Offs \u2013 <\/strong>if a car has been written off, that is damaged in an accident or incident that renders it beyond roadworthy repair, the HPI check will tell you. There are many cases of unscrupulous sellers palming off written-off vehicles as good second hand cars. They can be dangerous, and you will not find anyone willing to insure it.<\/p>\n

Stolen Cars \u2013 <\/strong>a regular racket is to sell on stolen vehicles; an HPI check will reveal whether a car has been registered as stolen, and you should walk away from any such deal.<\/p>\n

Scrapped Cars \u2013 <\/strong>sometimes, a car bought for scrap will be hastily \u2018repaired\u2019 and the owner will attempt to sell it on. This will be shown in your HPI check, too.<\/p>\n

So, put simply, for a very small, one-off fee you can check any car you are interested in \u2013 or several at once in fact \u2013 and get a detailed look at the past history of the vehicle, which will in turn tell you if it is fit to buy. Make sure you get the official report through HPIcheck.com, as it really is worth the small fee charged.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Buying a used car can be a minefield. In the first instance, there are so many to choose from \u2013 especially if you are looking to buy one of the more popular models \u2013 and then, you have the choice… Continue Reading →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1312,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[12],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"\n