No Logbook? No Sale

IT’S EASY to let your head rule your heart when buying a used car, but a leading industry expert is warning buyers not to part with their cash if the vehicle is missing its logbook.

Used vehicle data specialists HPI says it has seen a rising number of customers fall prey to sellers passing on vehicles without a logbook, otherwise known as the V5C, leaving them vulnerable to a number of scams.

Commenting on the issue, Phil Peace, Operations Director for HPI, said: “We’ve seen a number of buyers going ahead with a vehicle purchase without having seen the logbook for the vehicle. This is an enormous risk. Buyers who don’t see the logbook are missing vital information about the car, such as confirmation of the seller’s name and address.

He went on to say: “Logbooks are an integral part of verifying a car’s identity and ownership. If a seller claims to be waiting for one in the post, the buyer should wait until the seller has it before continuing. It might be frustrating to have to wait a little longer, but knowing the full details about a car is crucial – if it turns out to be stolen then they will lose the car and the money, so it pays to be patient.”

As you’d expect, HPI offers its own vehicle status check, which is capable of verifying not just mileage details but also outstanding finance on a vehicle or even if it’s been stolen or written-off. That said, the bottom line is always ensure a car’s logbook is present before striking a deal.

By Press Association reporters