Latest news for HPI 
Online car buyers vulnerable to criminal scams(05/09/2011)
HPI is warning used car buyers to proceed with caution, as they can be vulnerable to criminal scams when purchasing a vehicle online. In addition to cloning, online buyers are also more vulnerable to the traditional scams associated with used car buying. The HPI Check will reveal whether the car is registered as stolen with the police, has been declared a total loss by an insurance company, or has outstanding finance against it. In a recent s... [more]
Motorcycles remain an easy target for thieves(31/05/2011)
According to recent figures, motorcycles represent one per cent of all vehicles on the road but one in five stolen vehicles is a motorcycle. With this increase in stolen bikes on the road, HPI is warning buyers to remain cautious when making a used bike purchase. Despite the fact bikes make up a small percentage of vehicles on the road, they accounted for 22% of overall thefts in 2010, up 17% from 2006. HPI warns used motorcycle buyers to be vig... [more]
Growing influence of CO2 emissions on consumer car buying decisions(06/04/2011)
According to a new survey of UK car dealers from HPI, there is a 52% increase of dealers confirming that CO2 emissions influence customers’ purchasing decision in 2010, compared to 2007, thus confirming the growing influence of CO2 emissions on consumer car buying decisions. With the growing focus on carbon emissions, many dealers are choosing to download the HPI CO2Certificate, which can provide customers with clear ‘at a glance’ information ... [more]
The run up to Christmas is a good time for used car buyers(14/12/2010)
Clever buyers can save thousands of pounds on the asking price, by using seasonality to their advantage when it comes to buying a used car. The winter months can be quiet for used car sales, particularly in the run up to Christmas, so this is a good time for buyers, as there can be many bargains to be had. Other trigger points affecting used car prices can include the plate changes in March and September which generally result in an influx of... [more]
All used car and motorcycle buyers should be concerned about cloning(11/08/2010)
Cloning is the identity fraud of the vehicle world. Criminal gangs steal a vehicle, and then give it the identity of a similar vehicle already on the road. The criminals disguise the unique 17 digit Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) and replace it with that of another similar vehicle legally out on the road, as well as using a stolen V5 document to further legitimise its identity. Cloning is commonly considered a problem that primarily affec... [more]
Gleaming paintwork and a sparkling interior may be covering a multitude of sins(18/02/2010)
HPI is urging used car buyers to be vigilant and take advantage of the tools available to guard against buying a dud. For the fourth year in a row, independent traders have topped the Consumer Direct list as the most common customer gripe. Franchise dealers were also named and shamed within the top ten listing. However says HPI, it is a minority within the trade that is casting a shadow over the industry as a whole, and that buying has its ris... [more]
4x4s and compact executive-style vehicles are most at threat from being stolen(07/12/2009)
Recent analysis from HPI reveals that 4x4s and compact executive-style vehicles are most at threat from being stolen. HPI is warning car buyers not to fall foul of criminals looking to sell on these vehicles and stresses that they only need to take a few simple but effective steps to beat the car crooks. HPI’s Stolen Hit Rates by Vehicle Type 4x4s 14% Compact Executives 11% Roadsters/Cabriolets 8% Small Family Cars 8% Executive Cars 5% M... [more]
Simple but effective steps to avoid buying a stolen car(22/09/2009)
ITV UK's Car Crime programme shockingly revealed that one car is stolen every five minutes - highlighting that more people are at risk of buying a stolen car than ever before. HPI stresses that all used car buyers need to take a few simple but effective steps to help beat the car criminals. “Last year, 14,000 vehicles were stolen in Greater Manchester alone, which illustrates just how serious the problem is,” explains Nicola Johnson, Consumer ... [more]
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