F&I Management & Training

HPI offers advice on plate changes and how to avoid buying a car with a fake ID.

www.hpicheck.com

Lauren Ingram found out just how easy it could be to buy a vehicle with a fake ID, when the plate on the VW Golf she was about to purchase turned out to belong to a BMW. Lauren spoke with HPI, vehicle information expert, who confirmed the plate did indeed belong to a different vehicle, and was able to tell from the VW Golf's original plate that it was an insurance write-off. She said, "I can't believe I nearly spent over £6,000 on a car that shouldn't have been on the road. I was shocked. Luckily the HPI Check uncovered the car's real identity and I walked away from the deal."

HPI offers used car buyers clear advice on the dangers that might be lurking under forged plates, as well as how to spot a legitimate plate change.

"The trend for applying personalised, or cherished, number plates to a vehicle is becoming ever more popular, as people seek ways to make their vehicle stand out from the crowd. 1 in 5 of the vehicles we checked in 2012 had had a cherished plate, so it's common enough, but what if the reasons are less about personalisation, and more about hiding something?" comments Nicola Johnson, Consumer Services Manager for HPI. "Applying a false plate can be a simple fix for drivers who want to avoid fines for speeding, parking charges or tolls such as the London Congestion Charge.

A plate change can also hide the fact it has been involved in an accident and written-off by an insurance company, is currently recorded by the police as being stolen, or is still on finance. You just won't know without doing some digging."

Johnson continues, "HPI doesn't just check a vehicle's current plate, we also check the previous ones to see if we can unearth any evidence of historical problems. A vehicle that turns out to be a previous write-off could be dangerous if it hasn't been safely repaired. A plate change could also be hiding the fact that the vehicle is currently recorded as stolen. Many consumers don't realise that unwittingly buying a vehicle that later turns out to be stolen could see them lose the car and their money, when it's returned to the rightful owner. The HPI Check confirms whether a vehicle is a write-off or is currently recorded as stolen with the police."

"Previous plate histories can get very complicated, which is why HPI conducts a thorough investigation into every vehicle it checks," concludes Johnson. "The HPI Check is designed to do all the research for a customer, flagging up issues such as a plate change, then offering customers the advice they need to take precautionary steps, so they can buy safe in the knowledge they are not throwing their money away."

The HPI Check also includes a mileage check as standard, using its National Mileage Register (NMR) database, which holds more than 160 million mileage records, protecting buyers from the risk of buying a clocked vehicle. In addition, the HPI Check offers a Guarantee of up to £40,000** in the event of the information it provides being inaccurate or incomplete, offering added financial peace of mind to used car buyers."

DATED: 20.05.13

FEED: HA