Buying a used car...
 

Anybody here in the motor trade?

Is there a website where I can find out if a used car has been involved in any accidents etc?

Cheers

lee

Re: Buying a used car...
 

If your buying private then you need to hpi the car hpi home page

If your buying from a reputable garage, then they will / should have done it for you.

HTH

Re: Buying a used car...
 

Yes it's a reputable garage, but I'd like to do my own checks as well. :)

Thanks for the link - trying to find a price to see how much they con sorry charge you for it.

---------- Post added at 16:30 ---------- Previous post was at 16:29 ----------

Forty Quid!!!!! **** Offffff!!!

Re: Buying a used car...
 

£40 sounds a lot but if you think of the peace of mind, after all, you could be buying a right off ( if it weren't a reputable garage ) and £40 on top of a car price isn't that much IMHO.

It happened to my brother in law a few years back, bought privately and got stung, so it does go on, well each to their own, it's worth asking at the garage for proof of the hpi check, they should give / show you it :shrug:

Re: Buying a used car...
 

also if you buy from a garage, in fact I think from anyone, if you ask a direct question like, has this car been in a smash, they must answer you truthfully, otherwise you can say they sold you the car with false information and get your money back, minus the car though.

so make sure your questions are thorough:
has the car:
been in a smash?
had any panels replaced?
any parts of the engine needed fixed?
blown a gasket?

ask for a full HPI check
get an independent mechanic to look it over, dont trust theirs....

check yourself:
all lines should be smooth
have the same colour and coating (nothing should look different)
the spaces should be uniform, not finger width to touching

look at the steering wheel, is it rough and discoloured or very smooth?
gear knob very smooth, (lots of mileage)

check the book and ask for full receipts of the previous owner.

you can ask who the last owner was, and contact them to see if their was a problem.

good luck

ik

Re: Buying a used car...
 

Good call - as they have access to HPI checks I can just get them to print me a full copy.


Good call!

The car is from a main dealer - the car is an 05 reg, one owner (i think) 13k on the clock.

I might tell you what it is providing you promise not to laugh!

Re: Buying a used car...
 

I think the HPI price for a motor trader is a tenner. So even if they charge you for it it will be money well spent.

Re: Buying a used car...
 

:cool: Top man! £30 saved!

Re: Buying a used car...
 

what is it?

if it is an ex motability, go for it, they are more looked after.

ik

Re: Buying a used car...
 

It's one of these...

Not this car though - getting it from a local dealer.

Re: Buying a used car...
 

If you are getting it on finance the finance company should perform/ pay for those checks ;)

Re: Buying a used car...
 

that is a volkswagon, nothing wrong with them, in fact I have only heard good reviews about them.

ik

Re: Buying a used car...
 

Yes they will but they won't provide you the information.

Any car dealer these days will have a login to the hpi site or possibly black cap that will show that info. Both the car dealerships I worked at made it mandetory for any car to be hpi checked when it came in and for a copy to be kept on file. Simply ask to see it.

Re: Buying a used car...
 

Well - not exactly - but I know where your coming from! :D

---------- Post added at 06:55 ---------- Previous post was at 06:54 ----------

Thanks Handyman - will ask to see it and if I find anything dodgy - then it might be No Deal, Noel!

Re: Buying a used car...
 

Absolutely nothing wrong with the newer Skodas, they're really nice motors!

Re: Buying a used car...
 

Thanks - good to know I've made the correct choice for a change!

Re: Buying a used car...
 

Thats just a rebadged VW Bora (Or is it the Passat?) anyway asside from the interior its virtually the same car as one of those. Infact Ive heard the skoda offering is infact the better car.

Re: Buying a used car...
 

Yep, same as what I heard :)

Re: Buying a used car...
 

Got a HPI report from the dealer...just one A4 page with basic info...

Is that all is should be? Got info of any collisions (none) stolen (no) etc..

Re: Buying a used car...
 

If the car hasn't been involved in collissions that went through insurance then it wont be on an HPI report anyway.

Ask the dealer the questions which I think were in Handyman's post. Get them documented, and that way if you do find the car was dodgy, you have something to say that the dealer told you there was nothing wrong with it.
I don't know what thats worth in court tho, cause the dealer could say he's answering in good faith.

Re: Buying a used car...
 

Best motors on the market mate, you'll not be disapionted with your purchase. I know loads of Taxi drivers who have them and they love em to bits,even the Police round here have them now for patrol cars. Skodas rock for me I'd have a car park full of them if i could.

---------- Post added at 07:03 ---------- Previous post was at 07:02 ----------

Any reputable dealer will give you an HPI check free of charge