Does it matter if a car has had a colour change?

Unless the car was Lime Green or Tangerine - normally cars dont have a colour change. If you are looking at an older or specialist car like a VW Van or and Aston Martin, however if something like a Ford Mondeo or Porsche 911 has been resprayed then some questions need to be asked.

It would be essential to go through the paperwork, find out why the change has happened and validate whether the car history check was correct. If it was due to a car accident and it was all resolved properly then perhaps you could use this information as a further bargaining chip - as you need to take this into account when you sell the car.

All in all this all starts with the Vehicle History Check, so find the right one using www.comparecarchecks.com and think carefully about those tangerine 911's...

A moan on the BBC Top Gear Show

Recently the BBC Top Gear Show has changed from reporting on cars that typically we want to buy - we cant all afford the 911's and GT40's and we dont necessarily want that reasonably priced car - I think that the show should get back to the basics and inform us - in the usual Clarkson way rather than shooting cars at caravans for target practice.

For example we think that we should contact them to ask their advice on buying on the internet and the pitfalls of travelling the country to spend ten grand on a ringer or write off...

So come on boys - support our campaign to inform us more about the real things that can make a difference to our lives - and potentially save them, with stopping the practices of 2 cars welded together as 1

What do you think...

Can you find out whether your car has been cloned using the car check service?

Have you wondered whether someone else is driving around in a car that has been cloned on yours. We hear a lot in the new about identity theft and people racking up debts in your name. It would therefore be useful to find out whether you can check to see whether there is someone out there that could be clocking up speeding tickets or parking fines on a car that's been cloned on yours -  and you will be getting them!

So can you do it with these checks, unfortunately not at the moment as the police haven't used their number plate recognition cameras to figure out whether the same registration appears in two places at the same time – I guess its because it might be getting to big brother...

Should the government give car checks away for free?

If the government has access to information about dodgy or dangerous vehicles that have some hidden ast - surely they should provide this information as a public service, so why do they sell it to providers who charge us information.

Well there are several sides to this story, clearly there is an administration charge to collecting, administrating and distributing this information - so it seems reasonable that they charge, however I dont remember paying for my space or facebook. They do offer some bits of information for free but you need to know where it is and it takes some time to find it. We at compare car checks are looking into this free 'HPI Style' service with the public domain information so we will keep you posted on the blog and the site...

dont forget about getting some one a check for xmas - its funnier than socks (well as long as it doesnt show that their pride and joy has been a write off!)...

BBC1 The One Show - Coverage on Car History Checks

Did you see tonights BBC1 the one show at 7:00 that covered cars that had been clocked, accident damaged, and repaired - explaining to you what you should do when you buy a second hand car, it seems pretty straightforward.

However it is always sensible to run one of these checks - try using the compare car check service at www.comparecarchecks.com to find the best provider - remember there are more companies than just HPI ( the household name)...

If I am selling my car - Does it matter how matter how many times it is checked?

When you sell your car, it is likely that most interested parties will want to check this out - so does that affect the check, in the same way as a credit rating? The quick answer is no, however if you do your check when you advertise the car you could use the report you get to your advantage, explaining that its been independantly history checked and show a pdf of the cars history report from the providers - this could give you an edge over another similar car - if you want to check the best deal at the moment, please see www.comparecarchecks.com

Do car check providers pay out on the 10 grand indemnity (indemnities)

Well this is an interesting question that no one really knows the answer to, however from doing a bit of research, there is typically alot of terms and conditions and small print for providers to get out of handing over the cash.

So what you have to do is follow their instructions precisely, and normally this involves printing out a form that you complete with the car transaction and submitting it back to the provider, however this can be described as a sold as seen situation - in other words you may not get any money anyway.

So in summary the terms are very strict and wont necessarily pay out the full amount of money that you paid for your car - so be carefull and read all the small print - otherwise they will probably get out of reimbursing you anything - good luck!!!

free dvla car hpi check - can you get one?

Unfortunately not but these checks have recently come down in price and comparatively to what you spend on a car - often it is the second biggest expense that you make after your house.

So try our service that should get you the best deal... www.comparecarchecks.com

Information on Insurance Write Offs - including the 2 most important Category C write off ; Category D write off

This is the best descriptions of the classifications that I can find - I hope this information helps

Category A  The vehicle may not be resold it must be crushed.  Severely damaged, total burnout or flood damage with no serviceable parts, or already a stripped out shell. DVLA will require a "Notification of Destruction".

Category B  The vehicle may not be resold. It will have been damaged beyond economical repair, usually with major structural damage. The DVLA will require "Notification of Destruction" but parts can be removed and sold on.

Category C  Repairable salvage. Usually applies to vehicles with significant damage and where the cost of repairs exceeds the book value. It can be sold for repair but must have VIC(Vehicle Identity Check) inspection before returning to the road. V5 documents are returned to DVLA and recorded as category C vehicles. You can re-apply for registration on the original identity once the VIC inspection has been done. VIC inspection and re-registration removes the Category C classification, but evidence it was at one time Category C remains on the vehicle's record at the DVLA and so will appear on a vehicle data check.

What is a Vehicle Identity Check and how does it work?(taken from the VOSA's site)  The Vehicle Identity Check (VIC) has been introduced to help reduce car crime. It is intended to deter criminals from disguising stolen cars with the identity of written off ones. When an insurance company 'writes off' a car, (Category A, B or C) they notify DVLA and a VIC marker is placed on the DVLA record. DVLA will not issue a Registration Certificate (V5C) or a Vehicle Licence Reminder (V11) to a car with a VIC marker against it. In order to remove the VIC marker the car needs to be inspected by VOSA to confirm its identity. When the car passes the VIC, the marker is removed. The VIC will be carried out by VOSA. It will involve comparing the car against information held by DVLA, such as the vehicle identification number, make, model, colour and engine number. The VIC will also compare the record of previous accident damage with evidence of damage repair as well as checking other components to confirm the age and identity of the car.

Will the VIC confirm that the vehicle is roadworthy? No. The VIC is designed to confirm the identity of the car and does not assess the quality of the repair. You should seek independent expert opinion as to whether the car is roadworthy. If whilst carrying out the check the inspector notices a serious defect which would make the car dangerous to drive, then they will issue a notice which prohibits the car being used. Once it has been made roadworthy the prohibition can be removed.

Note:  I understand motorbikes falling into this category do not have to undergo a VIC inspection so will warrant close investigation and clarification of identity.

Category D  Repairable salvage. Minimal damage, probably not structural, but insurer does not want to repair, even though it might be economic to do so. Often stolen and recovered after claim has been paid. Or it maybe a vehicle where parts are difficult to obtain so a quick repair is unlikely. Does not need VIC inspection to return to road. Notification will appear in your vehicle history check

Category X has been the subject of a claim but minor or very lightly damaged and required minimal repair work. It would not be recorded with the DVLA so would not appear in any Vehicle Data Check

"not recorded" - Not an official category, it simply means that there has not been an insurance claim, possibly only had third party insurance and damaged the vehicle themselves or don't know who caused the damaged so can not make a claim or may not even been insured, either way the DVLA will not know in these cases so will not be recorded and will not show on any Vehicle History Check

Insurance Loss Categories - Quick reference

Here is a quick reference guide to insurers classification on insurance write offs

• Category A - Must be crushed. All of it.

• Category B - Vehicle may not be returned to road but parts may be sold.

• Category C - Repairable. Significant damage. Cost of the repair is more than book value of vehicle at dealer rates.

• Category D - Repairable. Probably non-structural damage. May have been economic to repair, but insurer doesn't want to.

• Category X - Repairable. Minor Damage

Please check the other blog items for the details on this

Which is the best car history product?

Well there no simple answer to the question of the best car history product thats why we had to put together a wizard after months of research on the different features, prices, and terms that the different suppliers offer.

So if you want to find the best car history check or the cheapest car history check, or the car history check that offers the best value (as sometimes cheap car checks arent as good as they should be, goto www.comparecarchecks.com - it will take you less than a minute (rather than watch the adverts between your favorite tv show)

Go for it... go compare them now

Is there a feedback section, where people can report on experiences of these products?

There are lots of comment sections on the forums on the web, but to try and help you out we are looking to include a section for you to  log and note your experiences, both good and bad...

This should be good for future users of www.comparecarchecks.com - watch this space!

I have just bought a car - Is it to late to check?

Ideally performing a car check before you buy a vehicle is best, and now these checks are cheaper you can check multiple cars when you shop around.

However if you have already made a decision on the car of your dreams or got the workhorse for work or the family, should you check it...? Definately YES

You never know whats happened and what might be wrong? Also it might not be to late, if you have not bought it sold as seen then you may be able to go back to the vendor and explain that all wasnt what you expected and try and sort out a deal.

However more important if the car has a history, and say its been a write off and not repaired properly then is it the car you want to be relying on or putting you loved ones in - my advice for what its worth, is get it checked and have that peace of mind...

Try www.comparecarchecks.com to find the best car history service

Vehicle Mileages - When mileages are reported - are they accurate or can they be wrong?

Checking whether a vehicle has been clocked used to be a key issue that you could check whether the dashboard had been removed and someone had got a drill in reverse and watched those miles come off the car, however as time progresses things have become more sophisticated. Manufacturers now electronically store the vehicle mileage in many places around the car including in one top of the range mercedes s class in the headlamps!

Now recording of the mileage can be done when people buy or sell a car on the V5 or V5C, which often can be inaccurate. Also now cars that have an electronic MOT - garages must declare the vehicles mileage at that point.

So all could seem well and relatively accurate, however we have found that whilst doing a history check with some providers and disclosing the mileage whilst doing that check that this value can be recorded as well!

If any of these values are out of sync then this could lead to a problem when you try to sell your car, either having an effect on the value or wasting time resolving it, or worst case the buyer walking away thinking that there is something dodgy with your car.

So the best advice could be to check your car regularly to check what information is being recorded to ensure that if something is incorrect you can rectify it at the time, rather then when you have little time when you are looking to sell it.

Its certainly worth finding out what is recorded against your car - try using www.comparecarchecks.com to find out what is the best car background provider to use for your vehicle...

It could save you time and money in the long run...

Can I do a vehicle history check and find out where the owner lives?

Have you ever been cut up, or harassed by another driver and managed to get the registration and wondered whether you could use the car history checks to find out more about them - especially where they live or their contact details, phone numbers etc.

Well unfortunately not - this data only tells you about the car not the drivers or owners, if you have a problem with an incident of this nature the best way to resolve it is to contact the police.

You can find out however how many previous accidents they have been involved in, and whats happened in the cars history... the best way to do this is use www.comparecarchecks.co.uk

Can I check my Neighbours Car - Do I need permission?

Are you a nosey neighbour or just interested in their well being? Well often it is interesting what the car actually is, how much its worth and whats happened to it, it could make for some interesting conversation over dinner or at a BBQ, especially as the cost of these checks are now less than a decent bottle of wine.

Mind you you may also be interested in the car that your daughters boyfriend is taking her out in... big brother has certainly come of age and could give you piece of mind.

Well to answer the question, there is no reason or law to stop you checking any car, as no personal details are ever given out so there are no data protection issues.

This could also be a good idea for a Christmas present for those who have everything, especially if they have a classic car - it could be interesting to find out there history.

Car history checks are now much more affordable and can be checked in more circumstances than just when you buy a car, it can be a bit of fun to - especially if there are some suprises in the information to...

Get checking...

How do the providers make money on a Five Pound Car History Check

Well after trawling over the different providers features and benefits it made me wonder how the providers are actually making money out of these checks - RAC are looking to charge a fiver and there is mycarcheck looking to go for a quid less, yet I note that most charge twenty - is there a catch in this... or is it a genuine offer - Well we think that the providers are using the service as an entree into other financial services that they want to upsell, for example car insurance. However this may be no bad thing. If you see a car you like, check its history and choose to buy it - having an offer of a insurance quote, or even better 7 days free insurance can be a bad thing can it?

So we say make hay whilst the sun shines and get all your family a car check for christmas - especially if you are stuck for ideas on what to get the mother in law...

failing that try getting a car warranty and watch her smile...

How do price comparison sites make a profit?

How do price comparison sites make a profit?

When you are planning a major purchase on the High Street you may trudge through a few stores to compare prices. If though you have access to the internet you could see what is being charged for the same item by scores of different retailers by going to a price comparison website. GUS - the group that owns Argos and Homebase - clearly believes these websites are the thing of the future. GUS has just spent £270 million buying PriceGrabber.com an internet price comparison company based in America. Jim Hodgkins, speaks for GUS. He is Managing Director of Experian Interactive part of the GUS group. Andrew Craig knows all about these price comparison websites - He's Editor of Web User Magazine.

Transparency on Comparison Sites

I note that in the news yesterday that there have been calls for comparison sites to confirm that they are checking the whole market and not just looking to make money out of the best deal. Well www.comparecarchecks.com does check the market and all of it - unlike some of the other sites that just refer just 1 or 2... We are also looking to disclose the sites that we receive a fee for introducing the business and not - as we dont believe that this is a bad thing, it just means that we can offer our services to you free, and you pay no more than buying the product direct. So if you want to compare car checks visit comparecarchecks.com

Greedy Gordon

So, Greedy Gordon has decided to fleece us further by implementing the fuel tax increase he promised us back in April. Odd that, a politician keeping his promise. With crude oil now at $83 per barrel, and interest rates creeping up, even greater pressure on our personal budgets is just what we're all crying out for right now.

What's the betting that when the PM calls an election next year, he'll try to sweeten us all up with a small cut in the duty on fuel? He'll have already enjoyed an extra 2p per litre flowing into his coffers for six months – except it's not 2p per litre – it's actually 2.3p per litre. Not only do we all fork out fuel duty (which is a tax), but we also pay VAT on that duty (which is a tax). So we're paying a tax on a tax! If you pay 95p for a litre of unleaded, nearly 64p of that goes straight to the Treasury!

Unsurprisingly, the antis are saying the latest increase isn't enough, and that we should be forking out at least a fiver for every litre we put in our tanks. Predictably, Transport 2000 (largely funded by public transport operators and now known as the Campaign for Better Transport) is saying the increase is welcome – as long as the extra money raised is spent directly on public transport. Hmm, let me see – I bet that's exactly why Gordon Brown has instigated the rise – to spend all the extra cash on buses.

Of course we're told that such increases are essential if we're to stop the world overheating, but the Government knows only too well that it's convenience, not price, which dictates the mode of transport we choose. That raises the issue of whether or not mankind has really had any effect on the Earth's climate, but that's one for another day methinks…

Speed Cameras [off topic again!]

This just made me laugh. It was funny until i saw the police comment.

One police officer said: 'We are treating it as an act of vandalism. If we catch whoever is responsible, we intend to throw the book at them.'

One Law for Them One for Us [off topic]

I see Nick Freeman has been up to his special tricks - namely get those with sufficiently padded wallets off charges whilst mere mortals like you and I have to suck up the fines, the points the criminalisation and the demonetisation!

Who was the benefactor this time. Bloody Clarkson!

Now i've finished sounding off the facts:

He escaped a driving ban after being accused of travelling at 82mph in a 50mph zone.

Speaking outside the City of London Magistrates’ Court, Freeman said: "The summons was fatally flawed. They (Alfa Romeo) did not have any information as to who the driver was. They only had information as to who the car was loaned to. The form wasn't completed correctly. If someone had looked at this process properly it would never have come to court."
Crown Prosecution Service lawyer Michael Atkinson asked to be excused to make a phone call following an animated conversation with Nick. He returned later and told the court: "No evidence is to be offered in relation to the case." Chairman of the Bench John Newgas then dismissed the case.
Jeanette Miller, president of the Association of Motor Offence Lawyers and senior partner of Geoffrey Miller Solicitors, said: “Most magistrates would consider banning him for 56-days due to the level of speed involved, or in rare cases six points and a £1,000 fine.”

Lots of stolen cars on the road.

Latest figures from the Home Office indicate that although car crime has fallen there were still just over 2 million cars stolen last year.

Half of these were recovered.

Where do think the other 1 million go? A few high value motors get exported to the Middle East and Japan but most appear back on the UK second hand market in some shape or form.

Buyer beware!

Price War

We have noticed that the price war is continuing with the number of providers reducing their prices increasing. This is great news and you should take advantage of these offers whilst they are still around. You could start to check the histories of your families cars, even check them as a suprise... you could have some fun with it. On one of the car history checks, you can even get free insurance for 7 days - not bad for five pounds...