hpi checks

[colin cramb]

Hi guys, thinking about buying a used car from a private seller, the car seems an absolute bargain! Deffo seems too good to be true, 9 years old only done 36k a renault scenic for 1150, what's the crack with these hpi checks? Are they worth doing/value for around 20 quid!? Any advice much appreciated

[colin cramb]

Also any advice on what to look for/ask when I take it for a spin, going tomorrow I have got someone with me who know's a thing or two but the more the merrier....

[Andy Thompson]

i bought an Audi A5 and did a comprehensive HPI check as was a few spondoolies...for other cars i have bought around the £2k mark i have used the £6 services..which tell you if its stolen, if its a cat d or c..ask for the MOT certificate number and you can search its history that way for free..then ask if any advisories have been sorted...https://www.gov.uk/check-mot-history-vehicle

For a 9 year old car at £1100 and if its covered only 36k miles then it may have been well looked after...i dont think thats the bargain of the century so is probably priced to sell...seen those cars go for £1250 on an 05 plate with 50k on the clock.

cant help too much on what to look for as i just buy if its nice lol

[Rios]

The HPI check is definitely worth doing.  For the sake of £20 if you buy it and haven't had it done and it's stolen then the Police will take it off you when you try to re-register it for taxing it and at best you'll have to buy it off the insurance company.

If it's petrol then it's not so much of a concern, but a nine year old diesel with that few miles is unlikely to have done much motorway driving.  We're seeing a lot of new generation small diesel cars and older low mileage diesels come back with major engine problems as they're being sold as city cars and the owners never take them anywhere.  The nature of diesel means it does need a good blow on the motorway every now and again to clear everything.