2009 May | HPI Press Centre

The Attack of the Clones Continues

HPI reminds buyers to protect themselves against financial loss

Despite ongoing warnings of the very real threat of car cloning, leading vehicle information expert HPI believes people are more at risk of buying a cloned car than ever before. As the recession takes its toll on the UK, criminals are using more sophisticated methods to clone vehicles and car buyers are repeatedly falling foul of these fraudsters.

Car cloning is the vehicle equivalent of identity fraud – criminals steal a car and give it a new identity copied from a similar vehicle already on the road. The criminal will disguise the unique 17 digit Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) on the stolen car, as well as using a stolen V5/logbook to try to legitimise its identity. Read the rest of this entry »

May 26th, 2009

All, Buying advice, Cloned vehicles, Scam alerts |

Women Still Intimidated by Used Car Buying Process

HPI urges female used car buyers to arm themselves with the right information

Whilst almost half the driving population* in the UK are female, less than 20% of the used car history checks completed by HPI, the UK’s leading independent vehicle information specialists, were conducted by women. 4 in 5 women surveyed by HPI believed understanding the vehicle’s history was the most important thing when buying a used car**, yet when buying from the trade, many had to ask to see this information rather than it being volunteered automatically as part of the buying process.

“Whilst female buyers are just as aware as their male counterparts of the pitfalls of buying in the used car market, they feel much more vulnerable about putting themselves through the buying experience,” explains Nicola Johnson, Business Manager for HPI. “But it is really worrying that so many of the female car buyers we surveyed said they would rather place the onus on the car dealer, their husband or male friends to actively check out a vehicle and seek confirmation of its history. Read the rest of this entry »

May 18th, 2009

All, Buying advice |

Used Car Prices Continue to Creep Up

Vehicle values rally to September 2008 level, says HPI

The latest figures from the HPI Used Car Valuations Index offer the struggling motor industry cause for a small celebration, with a slight increase in month-on-month vehicle values – the third monthly increase in a row. Early indications show that both petrol and diesel vehicles of 12 and 36 months are performing well in May, with the rate of year-on-year depreciation falling from 21.5% to 18.5%.

However, whilst the used wholesale market is still relatively buoyant, the HPI Index also suggests that used car values on the whole are levelling out, with just the 4×4 sector rising in value. Read the rest of this entry »

May 4th, 2009

All, Vehicle Valuations |

HPI Press Centre

The Attack of the Clones Continues

Women Still Intimidated by Used Car Buying Process

Used Car Prices Continue to Creep Up

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