CarData checks - What's important to you

[XLR8ED]

Looking for a bit of marketing information here chaps for an article im doing for Techdaily blog. I am looking to find out what you think is important in a car / vehicle data check. Bearing in mind that the UK DVLA will not give out more than a few fields like make, model, colour, Tranny, year etc for free - so they can track you I assume.

Ive split it into a few fields:-

1. Car data - eg make model Colour VIN no, Engine no etc

2. Extended car data - WEight, length turning circle, fuel tank capacity etc

2. Performance Data - 0-60, top speed, 0-100 etc

3. Environment data, CO2, tax cost MPG etc

4. Saftey info - NCAP etc.....


Let me know what you think should be in each section and ill keep the first post up to date. Also because of a huge range of cost - what would you pay for accurate information?

[SJobson]

If you google 'Car data check' it'll come up with results for HPI etc, not specifications. So your description is not going to find its target audience.

[XLR8ED]

But HPI is a brand but like Hoover for doing the Dysoning ( lol ). I am under the impression the industry standard in Vehicel Data Check as HPI is a trademarked term.

[SJobson]

That's why I said etc - the data checks produce useful data such as whether a car has been written off, whether it has finance oweing, that sort of thing. What you are proposing above is a service that provides specifications, which are freely available from manufacturers (at least while the car is in production) and don't fall into the category 'car data' in my mind. Probably not in many people's minds, hence the results when you google the term. Which is my point.

[XLR8ED]

Yes I see. I thought it was advantageous that when you did a check that you got alot more free information about the vehicle too ? no?

[SJobson]

So if you're asking what we'd pay for free information, what answer are you expecting? Genuine question.

Most people will know the specs (if they care) for the model they're buying; it's info which is unique to that particular car (i.e. whether it's been written off, whether it has outstanding finance, how many owners) which they want when they get a data check.

[mnkiboy]

XLR8ED said:

Yes I see. I thought it was advantageous that when you did a check that you got alot more free information about the vehicle too ? no?

Personally, I only do a data check to make sure it hasn't been written off or has outstanding finance.
As already stated, the generic data is freely available on the net, or in the backs of car mags.

[XLR8ED]

Yes good point. still seems a waste not to include it for free... or indeed have a level of free that contained that information.

[SJobson]

Each of the paid car data checks has something unique - price, insurance-backed protection (with differing limits), additional info etc. I think you dilute the value of the paid-for information by cramming the report with free specs. Being able to see in a text message that a car is HPI clear is a far more important factor.