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VW Passat - Car checks - wilmarub

What's your thoughts on car checking services? There are a few to choose from like hpi check and RAC.

Which do you go for?

Hpi look the most expensive.

VW Passat - Car checks - Oli rag
Hpi was the first and probably is the most well known of these checking services.

I think you would have to read all of the small print to see what they actually check and more importantly what come back you have if they give you the wrong information.
VW Passat - Car checks - badbusdriver

Slightly different direction, but also worth looking at the relevant Honest John review for whichever car you are thinking about and look through the 'good/bad' section, which can be a bit of an eye opener!. Especially important if you are buying something outwith it's warranty but quite expensive and complex (as most modern cars are).

VW Passat - Car checks - SLO76
An HPI check is a must on any private purchase or even with a small dealer you don’t fully trust. Outstanding finance or write-off status are the biggest worries and still very common. But always remember there are terms and conditions to abide by if you want to be covered by their guarantee.

hpicheck.com/support/faqs/guarantee
VW Passat - Car checks - gordonbennet

HPI is good, but be careful if you pre buy several checks, useful if you are looking seriously at a choice of vehicles.

I did that, batch of 3 if i recall, and for some reason the system told me i had used all my pre paid checks after 2.

HPI never did reply to my emails about this, most annoying that, things go wrong now and again that is not the issue, but failing to even acknowledge a customer is poor.

Autotrader offer almost the same checks, ISTR buying a batch of 5 previouly and used all but 1, but the time limit expires sooner hence choosing HPI for the longer period of validity instead recently, my mistake.

As said the guarantees offered are conditional on phyical checks (mainly chassis numbers and confirming reg document markings) being made by you the buyer, submitting onto the system before completing a purchase.