Watch out for van cloners
HPI is warning van buyers of a growing cause for concern in the second hand light commercial vehicle market – cloning. Commonly considered a problem that primarily affects cars, HPI is urging van buyers to be vigilant against the threat of cloning and get protection with the HPI Van Check.
Cloning is the identity fraud of the vehicle world. Criminal gangs steal a vehicle, and then give it the identity of a similar vehicle already on the road. The criminals disguise the unique 17 digit Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) and replace it with that of another similar vehicle legally out on the road, as well as using a stolen V5 document to further legitimise its identity.
Buying a used van can be a risky process, but is essential to many businesses all over the UK. Unfortunately as it stands, 1 in 3 vans that have been checked by HPI possess a hidden history, ranging from outstanding finance to the vehicle being an insurance write off. For used van buyers who need the vehicle for trade purposes, this can cause severe damage to the success of any business. However, running an HPI Van Check prior to purchasing can radically reduce the risk of buyers ending up with a dodgy vehicle.
One unfortunate tradesman, setting up his own business, was buying a Mercedes Sprinter van for £8,000. Fatally, he got a friend to conduct a history check with HPI rather than conduct it himself. The check showed all clear. Furthermore, he bought the van with cash and didn’t do a V5 Document check, as recommended by HPI. The van later turned out to be a clone and was taken away and returned to the insurers, leaving him £8,000 out of pocket which severely impacted his business start-up plans.
Nicola Johnson, Consumer Services Manager for HPI, explains, “This unlucky van buyer suffered at the hands of fraudsters. But this could have been avoided had he conducted the HPI Van Check himself, as it would have meant he, not his friend, received our basic buying advice, which includes not paying with cash, and checking to see if the V5 logbook was stolen. Some 2.2 million V5’s were stolen from the DVLA, many of which are still circulating today and causing clone chaos, which is why we urge buyers to get theirs checked.
“Many business owners who rely on vans for their trade cannot afford to lose money on a dodgy vehicle that will become repossessed. Therefore the HPI Van Check is ideal, enabling buyers to feel safe when investing large amounts of money. The Check comes with a £30,000 guarantee, and HPI are the only company that currently offer clone cover of up to this amount. If customers follow our buying advice, they will be covered by the HPI Guarantee, even after buying a clone.”
The HPI Van Check will also inform buyers if a van is currently recorded by the Police as stolen, check the V5 document to ensure it is not one registered by the DVLA as stolen, and confirm if the mileage is correct by checking against the National Mileage Register. Concludes Nicola Johnson, “Taking into account the multi-faceted benefits that a HPI Van Check provides, the cost of £19.99 is really minimal compared to the amount lost if money is paid for a dodgy vehicle”.
For more information, visit www.hpivancheck.com.
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