It may be racy, but it’s also risky! Green cars the mostly likely to be stolen, clocked or written off
HPI data reveals green cars the mostly likely to be stolen, clocked or written off
According to new research by the vehicle history check expert, HPI, the colour car that most commonly hits its ‘at risk’ registers is green. Used car buyers who conduct an HPI Check® on green cars are more frequently told they are either registered as stolen with the police, have a mileage discrepancy that needs investigating, or are recorded as an insurance write-off. The good news is that green cars are the least likely to hit the outstanding finance register – and 1 in 4 cars checked with HPI has outstanding finance against
Outstanding finance is the biggest risk for used car buyers
The colour meaning for white may be purity and innocence, but white cars are most likely to have outstanding finance against them, according to HPI’s data. Anyone buying a car, which is still on finance, may lose the vehicle and the money they paid for it. The finance company, as the rightful owner of the car, could repossess it, making it an expensive mistake.
1 in five cars has a plate change
Cars that are black, which consumers are led to believe is the colour of the ‘hidden’, the ‘secretive’ and the ‘unknown’, top the changed number plate list. Most people change their vehicle’s plate to personalise it, but there’s also a risk that those new plates are hiding a darker past. Used car criminals often use legitimate plates to hide the identity of a stolen vehicle, helping them sell it on to an unsuspecting buyer to make a quick profit. Perhaps surprisingly, red cars – red denoting energy, passion and action – are at the least likely to have had their number plate changed.
Has it been stolen?
HPI identifies 41 vehicles per day as currently being reported stolen with the police, with green topping the list of vehicles thieves like to target. Whilst psychologists promote green as the colour of growth, spring, renewal and rebirth, it is also associated with envy, greed and deceit. A vehicle that later turns out to be stolen, may be returned to the rightful owner, leaving the buyer out of pocket and without a car. Interestingly, whilst there may be 50 shades of grey, ‘grey’ cars are least likely to catch the eye of thieves, according to HPI.
1 in 20 has a dodgy mileage
Green cars top yet another list, which is those most likely to have an altered mileage; aligning these cars to green’s meaning of renewal. Clocking is when fraudsters reduce the mileage of a vehicle to make a fast profit. Innocent buyers could pay over the odds for a vehicle with a falsely low mileage reading, which could be hiding more wear and tear than expected. White cars hit the bottom of the list, escaping the attention of clockers.
Is it a write-off?
HPI uncovers 760 vehicles per day, which have been declared insurance write-offs and there are more of these cars are green than any other colour. Don’t be fooled by shiny paintwork of any colour, as it could be a write-off that’s not fit to be on the road. Grey cars are the least likely to show up as being written off by an insurance by an HPI check, but it’s best to get it checked before parting with any money.
Neil Hodson, deputy managing director for cap hpi concludes, “Whilst green cars top three of our ‘at risk’ registers and grey cars come bottom, we urge used car buyers to stay vigilant, regardless of colour. There are no hard and fast rules for spotting a car with something to hide, which is why heading to www.hpicheck.com is the best way to avoid being duped by a dodgy deal.”
| Colour most likely to hit HPI’s at risk registers | Colour least likely to hit HPI’s at risk registers | ||
| Green | Stolen | Grey | Stolen |
| White | Finance | Green | Finance |
| Black | Plate change | Red | Plate change |
| Green | Mileage discrepancy | White | Mileage discrepancy |
| Green | Write-off | Grey | Write-off |
