HPI'd a car I'm buying and Flagged Stolen, please advise!

[Timbuk2]

I've put a deposit down on an Audi S3 (Old shape) and when I HPI'd it it has come back showing:


"VRM currently recorded by an insurance company as a theft" (see below).


It is a '53 plate but has had a private plate on at some point, I've heard that can affect HPI checks if that plate has every been on a private vehicle but the woman on the phone told me it was registered with an HPI Stolen Marker on 03/06/2009.

She said she will arrange for the marker to be taken off but what does it actually mean has happened to the car, and how could I find out? I am meant to be picking up the car on Monday and am having a comprehensive car check done on Monday before I take it away by DEKRA Vehicle Inspections who do inspections for the AA. I'm not too fussed if it is nothing serious but would be nice to know what the marker relates to!

It is a trade sale and the dealer is looking into it as he was "unaware" of the marker, even though the advert says it was "HPI checked" and my friend who was with me said he said it was HPI clear although I do not remember him actually saying it.





Can anyone tell me what this means please?

So current plate was on the vehicle when the marker was put on. (Original **53*** plate)

Edited by Timbuk2 on Wednesday 11th April 20:24

[Timbuk2]

Yes, I'm going to ring HPI tomorrow and see if I can get some more info out of them, he insurance company/details would be nice.

[Timbuk2]

I've just read in the report:


"Each year 150,000 vehicle thefts are recorded by insurers. HPI Check will tell you whether a vehicle you are looking to buy has any outstanding insurance interest recorded against it, which may mean that you can't legally own it, however much you may ultimately pay for it. For further information see FAQ

As a result of your check HPI will contact the insurer to determine whether it is owned by them. We recommend that you do not buy the vehicle before you have received the result of this investigation which may take up to 5 working days."


I certainly will not be buying it before they've contacted the insurance company and found out the score!

[Timbuk2]

Drive Blind said:

so from that HPI report,

No record of theft by the Police, but a record of theft by an insurance company? Am I reading that right?

Is that possible? Can you make a claim against the insurance company (for theft of a motor vehicle) without notifying the police?

Yes - not sure exactly is going on, hopefully HPI will be able to find out and tell me.

LoonR1 said:

This is going to sound very sarcastic, but I would suggest that it means that the car has been stolen at some point in it's life.

Whether it's just an oversight following recovery and can be removed depends on the situation, although it could still end up with a marker as a Cat D or X (I think it might be "E" now) against it. This would be where the insurer has already paid out on the vehicle to the owner who had it stolen.

I'm no expert at the ins & outs of this stuff, as I gave up our Total Loss dept about 3 years ago to focus on other aspect of the Motor book.

I don't think there is any question that it has been stolen at some point (unless it is a mistake which from what I've read tonight is possible, but probably unlikely), just want to find out the circumstances exactly and see if it still worth buying - there aren't that many for sale with such a low mileage and age (one of the last made).

Steffan said:

Another good reason to look elsewhere

I am thinking about it, trouble is there aren't many about.

Drive Blind said:

Is this not also worrying?

You phone up and query a stolen marker and they say 'OK, we'll just take it off then'

Not sure if that's exactly what she said as that was with the DEKRA Vehicle Inspection lady (free HPI as part of the inspection), she said it was listed as "Theft Marked" but could be removed if it had been resolved by the insurance company so then I did a proper HPI check to get the details for myself.

Yes I don't think all trace of the fact it was stolen should be able to be removed - surely this just makes a joke of the HPI check - if the dealer had checked it himself he could just have done it himself and I would never have known.

[Timbuk2]

LoonR1 said:

This is going to sound very sarcastic, but I would suggest that it means that the car has been stolen at some point in it's life.

Whether it's just an oversight following recovery and can be removed depends on the situation, although it could still end up with a marker as a Cat D or X (I think it might be "E" now) against it. This would be where the insurer has already paid out on the vehicle to the owner who had it stolen.

I'm no expert at the ins & outs of this stuff, as I gave up our Total Loss dept about 3 years ago to focus on other aspect of the Motor book.

Sorry I missed that bit before, if it is going to be 'Cat' registered I think I will forget it, so I suppose it remains to be seen the outcome of these findings. Wasn't exactly a bargain anyway so not a massive loss.

Dogwatch said:

You would probably have found out at the worst time - when you came to sell it.

Yes, thank god I decided to have an inspection done on it that included a HPI check, I don't know why I didn't do one anyway, I will NEVER be buying anything without one again! Lesson learnt at least.

---

I wonder if there will be much hassle getting the deposit back if I back out. Advert says HPI Checked and 3 owners, when in actual fact it clearly hasn't been HPI checked and it has 3 PREVIOUS owners on the V5 and the current is the 4th.

Shouldn't be too hard, especially if it comes back 'Cat' registered.

[Timbuk2]

Emeye said:

Thing is, HPI Checked just means it has been checked. Very misleading. Just as Fully Serviced doesn't mean it has a full service history.

It's just more car sales bks. Of I ever see any car sales bullst in an advert I ignore it. It's so obvious that if a car salesman has to spin the lingo then there is something to hide!

I wouldn't accept anything other than your full deposit back!

I've decided to maybe cancel, still considering my options.

Who knew buying a used car could be such a minefield .

Thanks for all your comments.

Edited by Timbuk2 on Thursday 12th April 13:21

[Timbuk2]

Steffan said:

Did you pay the deposit by Credit Card? Always the safer way.

Well it was VISA Debit, I think the same protection applies.

[Timbuk2]

Ok, so now it turns out the stolen marker has been removed and it is HPI clear again!?

HPI rang me, they have spoken to the insurance company and it was stolen with the keys and then recovered with no damage.

Any wear and tear the robbers did is likely to be minimal compared to what I would likely put it through anyway

I am tempted to still go ahead with it now as it only has 52,000 on it and drives really well.

Also now, any HPI checks in future will show up clear.

The garage has done the cam belt and uprated water pump and wheel alignment for me also so not sure he would be too happy if I cancelled anyway, and would likely lose some of the deposit.

Not sure what to do now!

Edited by Timbuk2 on Thursday 12th April 13:24

[Timbuk2]

oldsoak said:

Chap, it's your money.
Do with it as you will.
Take on board all that has been said and make a decision...only you can do that.

Thanks, have done! I decided to cancel on the stolen one and will hopefully get my deposit back as it was not as advertised or described...

Here are a few pictures of the one I just got home. A few more miles and a year older but oh well, still drives well and two grand cheaper anyway! Just need to get rid of the silly silver mirrors.

Edited by Timbuk2 on Sunday 15th April 16:46

[Timbuk2]

Emeye said:

That's a nice looking car. Don't think the silver wing mirrors look too bad - in fact they match the interior! I think you did the right thing - it'd be in the back of your mind all the time otherwise.

Cheers mate, it's nice to have something a bit quick again after having driven around in a Jeep for the last 6 months! Might leave the mirrors too as they are the brushed alu ones not the chromed ones I thought they were.