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

Single or Multi buy? 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.

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?” Kirk Fletcher, Managing Director of Experian’s Automotive division

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 well over 1 million UK buyers a year now pre-checking cars before buying make sure you don't get caught out or stuck with someone else's problem, 1 in 3 have some form of hidden history so for the sake of a few pounds don't run 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 or at least agree the sale is subject to an all clear report before handing over any money, a deposit could be left upon similar terms but seek independent legal advice before entering any transaction, you can print off an invoice here. Beware any shipping companies or 401 email scams, some examples here

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...

Car Text Check

Checks stolen, written off and DVLA via text message, £3 details...

Note: Please see each respective website for full terms and conditions

Car Buyer Resources

How Much Will it Cost to TAX? Download - 2008 DVLA Vehicle excise duty rates form v149 here... 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

Download a Used Car Invoice - Print off a handy invoice if you're buying or selling a car. Download in PDF format 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...

Download Rights When Buying a Used Car - Produced by the Citizens Advice Bureau - What the dealers would rather you didn't see! Great information on your rights when buying a used car - download here

Download 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

Advertise Car FREE - 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 ads

Buyer Beware

Car Buying Scams - Beware any offer to buy your car via email, some shipping company examples 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

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...

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For more car data check options see our links page here
Looking for a private number plate combined search engine listings
The vehicle registration look-up page can be seen here