How to check car reg. No.?

[visagephoto]

My trusty Ford scorpio recently failed an MOT with a repair bill estimated at £800+, therefore I've had to find a replacement pretty quick so I went down to my local car auctions and put a deposit on a used car.

When I got home I contacted my insurers to arrange transfer of cover, however it seems that the registration number of the car isn't recognised on their national database, I've also put the reg. No. into a few online insurance quote sites with the same results.

Is it possible to check the authenticity of the car details without paying £50+ to DVLA?

 

[Scottish Business Owner]

Alan,

Go to www.autotrader.co.uk. About half way down is something called a history check. Stick in the registration and it will give you back some basic details. Then if you want to take this further you can then do the single vehicle check which I think will do an HPI check on the vehicle.

If that doesn't being up anything then a call to DVLA may be whats required.

 

[visagephoto]

Thanks

That has brought up some basic information (make, type and colour) minus the model.

 

[Former Member 1]

Hmmm auctions eh? Speaking as a dyed-in-the-wool petrol head and an ex cop auctions AREN'T high on my list of places to buy a car..

You really want the car's VIN number rather than the Index; you need to check this against the details on the V5. Preferably take the V5 or a copy of it when you pay the deposit. Your insurer should make more headway with the VIN.

There are all sorts of reasons why this can happen; if the vehicle's been returned tot he road after an accident, if it's an import (lots of RHD vehicles come in from Japan for instance)... One thing's guaranteed though. It'll pop up on every ANPR system going so don't drive it a yard without all the paperwork in place!

Was this sold off the lot or on the hammer?

 

[visagephoto]

Thanks Matt

The car is being sold on behalf of a major dealer (AC) it has obviously been traded in against a new vehicle, I'll get hold of the V5 (and VIN) tomorrow and call my insurers again.

It was purchased before going through the auction.

 

[Former Member 1]

Thanks Matt

The car is being sold on behalf of a major dealer (AC) it has obviously been traded in against a new vehicle, I'll get hold of the V5 (and VIN) tomorrow and call my insurers again.

It was purchased before going through the auction.

You should probably be OK; I'd suspect there's a bit of 'history', maybe a minor dunt at some time but it's quite possible (very probable actually) this is nothing to worry about... Just cross check the VIN that's physically on the vehicle against the V5 and the MOT... There should obviously be no signs of welding or anything near the VIN that indicates it might have been altered.

I think this counts as a retail sale (don't hold me to that) but check the position with the auction... there's usually some sort of indemnity policy available for very little money...

The insurance database and even the PNC are FAR from infallable....