Which one's best? They're basically the same car data checks with different wrappers - your choice

Single or Multibuy? Basically you're paying an extra £5 for 4 more checks so with the high cost of fuel and a 1 in 3 chance of possible adverse history showing up it could make better economic sense to 'check the reg' of a few cars before leaving home, with this in mind we think buying 5 checks for £25 is better. Multibuy here AA Car Data Check - AutoCheck Car Data Check

Who are Experian? They're the biggest supplier of auto and credit information in the UK, holding live data on 31 million vehicles and over 90 million DVLA registration records. Their database currently holds over 8 million records for cars bought on HP or finance.

Are Private car buyers getting more than they bargained for? - Any one who thinks that they are getting a bargain should ask questions about the car’s authenticity.  Why are you getting it so cheap?  Does it have a history that you should be investigating?  The industry is reporting a dramatic increase in the number of people selling their cars without repaying the loans on them.  Will you be left out of pocket because the car still has unpaid finance on it?  Or worse still, could it be a car that is actually a write-off and deemed unroadworthy by insurers but sold on fraudulently to you?

The advice from the Home Office is... "...you should check to make sure that the vehicle you are thinking of buying has not been stolen, seriously damaged or is still subject to finance"

Car Data Check History

A few years ago car background checks were originally only available to the trade but in recent years they have been made available to the public, with most people now having access to the internet the consumer has a choice of vehicle history check services so there's no excuse. In the U.S. it has long since been the case to check the history and vehicle's title deeds before parting with any cash, buyers that didn't then stood a good chance of buying a 'lemon'. With more UK buyers now pre-checking a vehicle before buying make sure you don't get caught out or stuck with someone else's problem. With 1 in 3 having some form of hidden history for the sake of a few pounds you're running the risk of losing your money, your sleep or even your life if you buy a deathtrap. Don't risk it - get it checked first!

HPI Check

HPI or 'Hire Purchase Investigations' was formed in 1938. They were the first to introduce this invaluable service and over many years in the industry have made getting a 'HPI Check' a commonly used phrase. In 1999 HPI Check launched an online vehicle data check service making it easier for the consumer to check a vehicles providence directly. In 2004 HPI was purchased by Norwich Union part of the Aviva group.

MyCarCheck.com

Powered by CDL. Checks stolen and 'stolen recovered', insurance write off plus all the usual DVLA checks etc. It comes with up to £5k Data cover. Further pricing options are available from £3.95 - £19.95 for varying levels of detail - see website for further details...

Note: Please see respective websites for full terms and conditions

Further useful resources for the car buyer

How much will it cost to tax? - With new taxes on vehicle CO2 Emission taxing your new car could be more expensive than you think. Search the make and model in the VED (Vehicle excise duty) calculator for exact CO2 emission price band here

This is the 2008 DVLA Vehicle excise duty rates form v149 - here...

Download the 2006 Car Theft Index - Published by the Home Office, 3826 cars are stolen every week! Details makes and models most at risk, an interesting read. Download in PDF (1.8MB) format here...

Citizens Advice Bureau - What the dealers would rather you didn't see! Great information on your rights when buying a used car - download here

VOSA Manufacturer Vehicle Recalls - Use this to see important recalls for your car, the franchised dealer will usually fix these for free here

DVLA - DVLA is warning motorists to be on the lookout for stolen V5C vehicle registration certificates when buying a used vehicle here

How to improve your credit rating - An easy way to see your credit report is to join CreditExpert, the online credit monitoring and identity protection service from Experian, get a 30 day free trial here

True Car Data Check stories from HPI Check - There are countless examples of people buying a dodgy car. Click the link to read some of their horror stories here...

Advertise your car online - TheCarPitch.com, get your car listed on all the major search engines, they're currently offering FREE advertising until sold. Well worth a look Free car classifieds

Car Buyers Guide - For a FREE Trading Standards Car Buyer's booklet produced in association with HPI Check, click the link (2.5MB download) car buyers guide

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For more car data check options see our partner sites here
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