When you’re purchasing a second-hand vehicle, there are a lot of risks to be aware of. It’s virtually impossible to know a vehicle’s past just from looking at it and that’s where having a detailed check can come in incredibly useful. If you’re thinking about buying a car or another vehicle, having relevant, up to date data can ensure you’re making the right choice and can be used to verify the information the seller has provided you with.
A salvage history check will identify if a crash-damaged vehicle is being sold on by the dealer, which can occur when dealers knowingly buy a car from a salvage auction and fix them up to sell on, or if the seller has disguised serious damage sustained to an officially written off vehicle claiming it was nothing more than bumper damage. With a salvage history check, you’ll have the true facts from which to make your decision.
All you need to carry out a salvage history check is the registration number of the vehicle. With this, we’ll be able to tell you if the car was sold at a salvage auction. The report will include the salvage location, the damage category, retail value, description of the damage incurred and pictures.
If a vehicle has been accidently damaged, officially written off, stolen and then recovered, or just disposed of by the owner, often they’ll be sent to a salvage company who will then auction the car for sale.
A salvage check provides you with these details, such as any damage to the vehicle, and it can be helpful in ensuring you understand the write off status and any repairs that have been made to the vehicle before you part with your money.
We partner with third parties to provide you with data and records on millions of vehicles that have been sold at auction through a salvage company. All you need to access this data is the registration number of the vehicle you’re interested in and we’ll send you a report of all the information we have on that particular car. This helps you make an informed decision every time and helps you to verify that the information given to you by the seller matches up to the facts we provide you with.
As with many vehicles that have been written off, the price of the car will be much lower than a non-written off car. In fact, you can make considerable savings compared to other used cars. However, it can affect your insurance policies and it depends on the extent of the damage as to whether the vehicle in question is worth buying. You need to be sure that the vehicle you’re purchasing is safe for the road and that it won’t cost you more in repairs later on.
If a vehicle has been salvaged, it cannot be driven on the road nor can it be taxed or insured. To transport a salvaged car, it has to be towed before repairs can be made.
You need to get in touch with the DVLA to see whether you can register a salvage car to be fit for the road. They will be able to inform you in more detail whether you can register the vehicle in question.
There are several categories for salvage cars which are created and used by various third parties, including insurers, the Police and the Motor Insurance Anti-Fraud Theft Register (MIAFTR). These categories include: