HPI Checks

Bobbler · 11 Apr 2007 at 13:16

Well at last it looks like I will be able to get hold of an Audi next week on Saturday. Found a completely different one than what I originally looked at last week without the respray and with the mods I want already on it

I am after a little advice though on some minor points:

1. HPI Checks - I notice that there is a huge variance in prices from one company to an other. Are they all essentially the exact same thing? Anyone used them personally. Would be looking to conduct it via the phone on the day possibly rather than online.

2. Insurance - bit of a tough one this. Currently I have no car cover as I am on a motorbike. How would you go about insuring the car for the day ahead of the test drive (and likely drive home)? The insurance company I am looking at (Greenlight) are only open until 12 on a Saturday and not at all on Sunday, so may be touch and go if I can get the cover arranged directly through them on the day.
Can I insure it the day before even though I dont actually own the car yet?

Confused · 11 Apr 2007 at 13:20

1. I always thought HPI was a company, but it's like vacuum cleaners, most get called Hoovers!

2. Yes you can get insurance the day before. You should also be able to get them to start it from any time you want in the future (within reason!). Although it won't really make much difference over 1 day's worth of insurance cover!

Bobbler · 11 Apr 2007 at 13:33

ConfusedTA said:
1. I always thought HPI was a company, but it's like vacuum cleaners, most get called Hoovers!

2. Yes you can get insurance the day before. You should also be able to get them to start it from any time you want in the future (within reason!). Although it won't really make much difference over 1 day's worth of insurance cover!

Cheers ConfusedTA.

It looks like there is HPI, RAC, Experian etc all do checks of some description. Just wondered if they are all the same thing though as HPI is £40 and an RAC check which promises the same information is £25

The insurance was a bit of an oddity as I thought you had to hold ownership of the car that you are attempting to insure. Thanks for clearing that up though.

Adam · 11 Apr 2007 at 13:37

HPI is more comprehensive but I didn't find the extra pieces to be much help. Personally I just want to know if the car I am looking at is a write off, stolen or has finance oustanding. Thats why last time I went for the RAC check.

The HPI check is worth is weight in gold but only costs £2.50 to the trade which makes me kind of begrudge paying £40.

HangTime · 14 Apr 2007 at 00:07

Bobbler said:
Cheers ConfusedTA.

It looks like there is HPI, RAC, Experian etc all do checks of some description. Just wondered if they are all the same thing though as HPI is £40 and an RAC check which promises the same information is £25

RAC uses the HPI database and so basically is just a slightly stripped down HPI check (doesn't check the National Mileage Register amongst other things). To be honest you are better off going for the Car Status Check ( www.carstatuscheck.co.uk ) which is pretty much identical to the RAC one except for branding and costs a fiver less.