Have you ever bought a car that's been 'identity checked'?

Question

Apparently it's a clue that it has previously been written off, but we didn't find out this til we had the paper work that he should have kept to send off to inform the DVLA of change of owner,and got the car home. It's category c, apparently happened 2ce in 4mths in 1995- we looked it up on the internet, this means it was seriously damaged and repairable, but not worth repairing. What do you reckon? Should it be fine? OR should we be wary?

ooh, meant 2005, sorry!

Answer 1

Be wary, if you had to find that info.
I went to look at one that seemed too good to be true, and I asked about half the questions any guide will tell you. When I asked if they minded if the car was inspected I was told where to get off. . . . "we've never had these sort of questions before. . . . " - only about half the recommended questions. It was a garage also. Really bothered me, bodywork was superb, but the exhaust was fuming after a test and throughout the brakes were dangerous. Could have been a massive repair job.

Answer 2

You should always get an HPI report on any car you buy. That reveals its full history, and nasties like this don't just suddenly pop out of the woodwork. If it has lasted 11 years from 1995 there must have been a measure of skill in the original repair, and being written-off as a non-economic repair happen a lot to vehicles that have very little damage. With labour rates the way they have been over the last few years it doesn't take long for the labour expended to outstrip the value of the car. If you're concerned, then get it inspected. Is the current MOT certificate genuine? That can be checked easily. If you feel you have been deliberately misled over this, get back to the seller of the vehicle.

Answer 3

cta c damage is not a right off! it is beyond economical repair, with labour for repairs at £55 - £70 an and the cost of any parts it doe,s not take a lot to do a couple of grands worth of damage to a car, and if the car is only worth say £2500 wel the insurance will cat c it and right it off, i have bought and sold many of the cars, have one in now the damage to it is broken screen and cracked front bumper,[ which you can hardly see] but the car is a cat c right off, i can fit a second hand screen £25, a new one via insurance would be £400 see the difference ! cat c has to be inspected by insurance company after repair before it is allowed back on the road. you do have some redress on the seller if it was a dealer, not so easy on a private sale, however if the car looks and drives ok, then just carry on and enjoy it, cat c is not really a problem.

Answer 4

Even a hpi check is unreliable with regard to finance. There was a scam that was rife about 4 years ago. If you buy a car on finance legitamately, the car does not hit the hpi register for 30 days. Thus giving you one whole month to sell it with no adverse information being recorded about it. Fraudsters and crooked dealers were buying cars on finance with stolen and forged documentation and then selling them to unsuspecting customers within the 30 day period. Always ensure you see the vendors id and take a copy if you can. Passport of Driving licence. Visit the sellers home to make the transaction. Do not go alone. Always get a receipt. Only pay cash if you are comfortable doing so. Good Luck.

Answer 5

I had a vehicle that I bought listed as unrepairable and found out that it was because it was in an accident and the insurance company considered it a total loss. This could just be the issue. You can sometimes do a carfax report and get the previous owner info and find out by contacting them or the insurance company.

Answer 6

Always do a HPI check from the AA.
Any history of insurance claim shows up on it
You also get previous owners, its value (good fair poor) condition
modifications etc.
Plus if they make a mistake with the report, they pay up

Yours scrap sorry!

Answer 7

most places give you a car fax (history of vehicle) for free. Thats why the knowledge is power.