Best place for HPi check? Txt message ones any good?

[Mad Dave]

Hi All,

I'm looking at a car tomorrow and will need to HPi it. I've seen adverts for text-message based ones that cost about 6GBP but i'm wondering if these are worthwhile or whether they miss information out? If I can spend a fiver instead of 40GBP then all the better, but I don't want to buy a pup as a result

Any help appreciated,

Thanks,

Dave

[Alfa_75_Steve]

I've used this one a couple of times:

http://www.rac.co.uk/web/vehicle-checks/car-data-c...

Might be worth buying the 3-vehicle deal if you're shopping around, though.

[Mroad]

I use the text message checking service before going to see a car just to make sure I'm not wasting my fuel (£3 for the last one I did, pulled up that the car was written off more than once).
If the car comes up OK and I go and look at it and want to buy I would do a full written HPI as it comes with a warranty.

[Mad Dave]

Thanks for that. I think you may have just saved me a 400 miles round trip to buy this vehicle - check shows the following:

Outstanding finance

*
Recorded against
VRM
Description
TOYOTA CELICA VVTI 3 DOOR
Date
13/10/2008
Finance house
NORTH HERTS CREDIT COMPANY

Outstanding finance
VRM currently recorded as having outstanding finance

Security watch
VRM currently recorded on the security register as at risk


Security watch:
This is an alert register, which typically records vehicles at high risk of fraud or theft (e.g. hire cars, demonstrator vehicles and garage forecourt stock). The Security Register is primarily used by the Police, Finance Companies and the motor trade, to ensure that these vehicles can be traced if someone steals them or attempts to sell them fraudulently (for example - perhaps without first settling an outstanding agreement). The registering party will be alerted that a check has been made, and they should contact you within the next working day, but do contact us if this is not the case. Please note that you should not purchase a vehicle that is recorded on this register, unless you subsequently receive confirmation that it is all clear from either the registering party or us.

Not happy, I can tell you that!! This is the second vehicle i've tried to buy and it's gone pear shaped - the first turned out to be a dodgy LPG conversion ffs!! Still, better to know now. It may well be that the database is out of date, but it's a bloody pain in the arse - I was meant to be leaving at 7am tomorrow to travel the distance to buy this vehicle. I hope this finance house are open tomorrow, though somehow I doubt it!!

Dave

[gilb]

There are a couple of sites here I've had a decent service from before if its any use (for cheapo cars):

HPIchecker.com
TextCarCheck.com

But to be honest for peace of mind I'd always rather pay a bit more and get one with a better guarantee if i'm forking out for a decent motor. Yer pays yer money.....

Gilb

[fozzymandeus]

I buy HPI checks that come with a guarantee of accuracy, and resultant insurance on that.

It's a bit like buying a planning indemnity when buying a house I s'pose.

Text message ones are paperless/documentless, so I would imagine don't have that guarantee, so are not worth the paper they aren't written on, I think... (This is speculation, so I'm prepared to find out I'm wrong and that a lovely set of documents land on your mat, 1st class post on conqueror paper once you purchase the check).