HPI warns of an attack of the clones

Vehicle data expert, HPI, is calling used car dealers to up the anti on the fight against the car criminal. This follows further news from the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) of suspect V5 vehicle registration documents.

For total peace of mind, HPI’s unique Stolen V5 Document Check is included as standard within the HPI Check. Unlike any other vehicle history check, the HPI Check will actually confirm to the consumer whether or not the document is legitimate and relates to the right car.

With the number of suspect V5s rising, HPI is urging dealers to be on their guard. Daniel Burgess, Automotive Director of HPI, explains: “News that yet more of these documents could be circulating in criminal hands is alarming. Stolen V5 documents are being used to accompany stolen vehicles that have had their identity changed to match that of a legitimate vehicle, otherwise known as cloning. In the war against the unscrupulous, the motor industry has worked hard to improve the quality and accuracy of the data it holds on used cars. Inevitably, this has made selling a stolen vehicle without changing its identity, all but impossible, hence the importance of these documents to the used car thief.”

An HPI Check is the industry’s number one weapon in the battle against car crime. It gives instant peace of mind when buying a car. Not only will it check that the V5 document is legitimate, but it will confirm if the vehicle is on outstanding finance, recorded as stolen, an insurance write off, has had a plate change or has been clocked.

Burgess concludes: “The industry can limit its exposure to car crime by checking the serial number that appears at the top right hand corner of the registration certificate. If it bears the prefix BG or BI then it may be one from the stolen batch and we would advise you to investigate it further.”