HPI reveals Midlands as stolen vehicle hotspot

HPI warns used car buyers to be aware of the dangers of buying a stolen vehicle, as it reveals nearly 31 stolen vehicles are uncovered by HPI Checks* every day, making this a very real threat to unsuspecting car buyers. HPI urges all buyers to protect themselves by conducting an HPI Check and offers top tips on avoiding stolen vehicles.

The latest figures show that, of the vehicles checked with HPI, nearly a third were between 1 and 3 years old. In addition, those consumers based in the Midlands were the most likely to do a history check on a stolen vehicle (nearly 1 in 5), with the north west of England (1 in 6) and East Anglia (1 in 7) also claiming their fair share of finding vehicles that turn out to be stolen.

HPI STOLEN HIT RATES UK HOT SPOTS

Breakdown of HPI Checks showing vehicle as stolen based on location

1. Midlands 18.99%
2. North West England 16.46%
3. East Anglia 15.19%
4. North East England 15.19%
5. London 12.66%
6. South East England 10.13%
7. South Central England 6.33%
8. South West England 2.53%
9. Wales 2.53%

“Unsurprisingly, our figures show that newer cars are the most appealing for thieves,” says Nicola Johnson, consumer services manager for HPI. “Vehicles can be stolen as a result of being broken into directly, or as ‘opportunistic thefts’ where vehicles are taken during house burglaries, the keys are easily located and the vehicle taken without force, and often being used to move the items stolen from the property. Criminals stealing vehicles and attempting to sell them on remains one of the most serious problems for used car buyers. In many cases, stolen vehicles are “cloned”, where its identity is changed to match that of a legitimate vehicle. This makes them appear legitimate, when in reality, they are anything but.

“It is crucial for consumers to remain vigilant against the threat of buying a stolen car. Car buyers can keep criminals at bay by taking several simple steps; such as checking that all the VIN/chassis numbers on the vehicle match each other and have not been tampered with, completing an HPI Check to check that the registration plate is registered to the VIN/chassis number (as recorded by the DVLA), and checking the seller’s ID – are you buying from the registered keeper of the vehicle as stated on the V5/logbook? Buyers should also steer clear of purchasing a vehicle which is considerably cheaper than the going rate for similar vehicles of the same age, condition and mileage, as this is a sure-fire indicator that all is not right. Together with these steps, the HPI Check offers consumers the best form of protection. Further vehicle security advice can be found on the Metropolitan Police website (met.police.uk/crimeprevention/vehicle.htm)”

HPI continues to work closely with the police to identify and investigate any vehicle which has potentially been stolen. HPI remains at the forefront of protecting used car buyers from falling victim to buying a cloned vehicle as it is still the only vehicle check that includes clone cover as part of its Guarantee protection.

Johnson, concludes, “Used car buyers should always conduct an HPI Check, as our latest figures show the continued risk of buying a stolen vehicle. Although our figures show the hotspots for vehicles on the stolen register, everyone should remain vigilant against stolen vehicles, regardless of their location.

“The unfortunate reality is if you buy a vehicle which has been stolen you are very likely to lose both the vehicle and the money you paid for it, as it still belongs to the owner. We therefore urge buyers to make sure they take a few simple steps to help prevent this, or they could end up seriously out of pocket.”

To conduct an HPI Check, log on to: hpicheck.com

HPI’S TOP TIPS TO AVOID BUYING A STOLEN VEHICLE

• Check the VIN number matches with the V5 documents
• If purchasing a vehicle from a private seller’s address, make sure it matches the address listed on the V5C
• Do not purchase if the seller cannot produce any of the vehicle’s documentation (V5/logbook, service records, MOT certificate if the vehicle is over 3 years old)
• Check all the VIN markings and window etchings for signs that thieves may have potentially tampered with them
• Do not purchase if the vehicle is more than 30% below the market value
• Always conduct an HPI Check

*HPI Checks conducted in 2009