Does crash in history change value?

[AW8]

Only Cat A-D repairs show up on HPI & other DVLA related searches. A should be crushed, B stripped & broken, C need a VIC via VOSA. Cat D is for cars that have been written off usually as not cost effective to repair or when due to an early settlement such as a stolen car that's not recovered quickly or perhaps a car where the cost of repair & other costs exceeds the pre accident value. Obviously there are insurance and non insurance repaired cars outside of the aforementioned categories that won't show up on an HPI check.


Given a choice between two seemingly visually identical non recorded cars for same price most would choose the one that has not had a repair.....................IF of course they knew of that repair prior to purchase.

Incidentally - Main dealers of all makes regularly get specialists to carry out repairs and dent removal from cars as part of their preparation.  I know this because I know the folk that do the work. Obviously without insurance companies involved there is no record of such repairs on HPI. I also know a guy whose job was to knock the dents out of new cars damaged in transit at a busy docks situated at point of UK mainland entry !

Plenty of cars sell on forecourts every day but would not have sold to same customers if damage not repaired first or if owners knew of repairs done.

I maintain my understanding is that HPI & other DVLA linked databases will only highlight categories A, B, C & D.  They do not show a buyer identifiable data footprint for every claim on a car outside of these categories. I stand to be corrected but have not seen or heard anything here or elsewhere to convince me otherwise.

Plenty of cars out there that have been left stood in flood water but not subject of a claim because they run ok at moment. Also plenty of cars out there whose owners have never checked the oil level ! 

[Steve Blackdog]

Hi folks

Well in the end, there has been so much hassle with the dealer not being able to release the car until it had been "inspected", I have cancelled the order.  It still smelt a bit fishy for me.  Interestingly the vehicle was crashed whilst in Sytner's possession, so I suspect they had no alternative but to do the work on it. 

Decided that if you are paying £40k on a car, why take the risk that the crash was worse than they were making out.  I don't want the risk that there is underlying chassis damage, when I am not getting a discount for it.

I'm not unhappy about that. Pleased Sytner were (eventually) up front about it.

Less happy that I ordered the car over two weeks ago and it still isn't available to collect.

Ordered a new F15 instead.

[AW8]

On basis of what you have said I think you probably made the correct choice.

I am fairly confident you should be happy with the F15