The oldest trick in the book or the latest scam on the block? HPI’s guide explains how used car fraudsters operate and how to give them the swerve.

HPI first launched its vehicle history check in 1938, which tells you one thing: used car scams are nothing new. Conveniently absent documents, questionable mileage or something in a car’s back story that doesn’t quite stack up are just a few indicators that a potential purchase may not be all it seems.

Some scams are long in the tooth, while others have modern tech on their side. In either case, used car buyers’ best line of defence is to familiarise themselves with popular scams and their hallmarks. If you can see them coming, you’re much less likely to fall for them. 

Cloning

As the name suggests, cloning is when a car’s identity is changed. This usually happens because the car has been stolen, and thieves want to sell it quickly to an unsuspecting buyer. It can also happen when organised criminals want to avoid detection, so they clone a car that can’t be linked to them or, at a lower level, when offenders want to avoid paying traffic or parking fines generated by ANPR cameras. 

Falsifying a car’s identity can involve changing the number plates, forging documents such as the V5 (the registration certificate) and tampering with the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN).

Clocking and Blocking

Clocking is when the reading on the car’s odometer is reduced to make it look as though the mileage is lower than it really is. The lower the mileage, the greater the value, so buyers are deceived into thinking the car is worth more, and it could well be hiding a much greater level of wear and tear. Blocking is when the odometer is prevented from recording mileage, so the reading remains static, regardless of how far the car has travelled since it was paused.

Neither clocking nor blocking are new – they’ve been around since people worked out how to fettle with odometers – and they were traditionally carried out by mechanically adjusting the reading or disconnecting the speedometer, but, like many shady activities, they have moved with the times. Mileage blockers are digital tools that connect with the odometer, often via a smartphone, and effectively allow the user to punch in whatever number they like (clocking) – or instruct it to stop recording mileage (blocking).

Arguably, the biggest problem with clocking and blocking is that altering the odometer is completely legal. It is only illegal to knowingly sell a clocked car without declaring its genuine mileage.

It’s also easy to find mileage blockers online, as many are sold with disclaimers that state they are only supposed to be used by technicians in a workshop setting. However, that doesn’t stop scammers from buying them.

Clearance Fraud

One of the more modern and organised scams on the scene, clearance fraud is when criminals seek out vehicle owners with outstanding finance. It is the seller’s responsibility to pay off any remaining motor finance – such as personal contract purchase (PCP) or hire purchase (HP) – before the car is transferred to a new owner, because they do not technically own the vehicle until it has been paid off.

Clearance fraudsters contact unsuspecting owners and offer to pay off the finance on their behalf if they sell them the car. Criminals will buy the vehicle for less than market value and then sell it for a profit without paying off the finance. That means the subsequent owner has a car with financial baggage that should never have been sold in the first place and which they cannot legally sell on.

Put simply, do not attempt to sell a car with outstanding motor finance and refuse offers from anyone claiming they will pay it off for you.

How an HPI Check Can Help

An HPI check is specifically designed to shine a light on a used vehicle’s history. It draws on numerous sources such as the National Mileage Register, the police, the DVLA, insurance and finance providers and other industry bodies for a comprehensive snapshot of any motorised vehicle’s past. That includes cars, vans and motorcycles.

An HPI Check Will Tell You:

• If a vehicle has outstanding finance
• If it has been recorded as stolen
• If it is an insurance write-off
• The number of previous owners
• If it has been recorded as scrapped by the DVLA
• If the logbook belongs to the car in question
• If there are any mileage discrepancies
• If the number plates have changed
• If it has been imported or exported
• If it is subject to a manufacturer recall

An HPI check will also verify the VIN number, provide a guide valuation and estimated fuel costs, and include an MOT history check.

DIY Scam Checks:

An HPI check is a one-stop shop to guard against vehicle fraud, but there are also plenty of things to look out for when you’re inspecting a used car in person that can reveal a scam. 

The VIN is a big one. It’s stamped on a plate and can be found in various locations throughout the vehicle, usually in or around the engine bay, on the bulkhead, or behind the driver’s or front passenger’s door. The plate should be fixed firmly to the bodywork and clearly visible, and the number should be consistent wherever it is displayed. VIN plates that are loose, look as though they’ve been tampered with, or are covered by replica stickers are big red flags. 

Check all the documentation thoroughly. Do the VIN number and the registration plate match what’s listed on the V5? And do elements such as the service and MOT histories stack up chronologically? Mileage is always recorded during an MOT test and often when a vehicle is serviced or repaired, so they’re all good reference points.

Check for motor finance documents when you’re leafing through the service history, too, and ask to see evidence that any finance has been paid off.

Have as good an idea as you can of the car’s market value (HPI Checks include a basic Valuation, and you can also check prices of similar examples on classified sites). Be on your guard if the seller asks for less than 70% of the market price for a vehicle. 

Protect yourself from vehicle fraud and make an informed purchase with an HPI Check. Whether it’s outstanding finance, mileage discrepancies, or a stolen vehicle, HPI uncovers the hidden history of any car. Don’t take risks—get the facts before you buy.

Purchase your HPI Check now: https://hpicheck.com/