Checking a cars history

admin    Salvage    

Before buying any damaged repairable car you need to thoroughly check the cars history, not only is this to reinforce or check what the salvage yard is stating about the car, e.g. Stolen & Recovered, or vehicle category.

You will be surprised just how many salvage yards are unsure of the car’s salvage category, and this makes a big difference when looking to price repairs, and potentially your profit if you intend to sell on.

Likewise, if a salvage yard says its unrecorded, always run a check to ensure this definitely is the case. There would be nothing worse than paying a premium for what is supposed to be an unrecorded (Cat X) car, and finding its actually recorded.

I’ve compiled a quick overview of all the main car history sites, with a few comments over which I feel are best suited to checking a cars history.
Please note: these are just my opinions…

HPI Check – £19.99

Very detailed report, and In my opinion the best for checking a car’s history. Available online and on the phone, and you get a very detailed report. See one here. A little expensive at almost £20, but very advisable if you are looking at buying an unrecorded car with the intention of selling on. The certificate will prove invaluable when coming to sell the car. Likewise when supporting the sale of a recorded car, it also looks good attached with the history and repair paperwork, and helps reinforce confidence on the behalf of the potential buyer.

mycarcheck.com – £3.95

Dead cheap and provided by one of the biggest (but least known) names in insurance. CDL (Cheshire Data Limited) provide the IT infrastructure for a lot of the biggest insurers, so they definitely know their stuff.
Very simple online check, more basic than HPI, but good if you are speculating about buying a car, and just want to make a quick check before progressing any further with the purchase.

AutoCheck – £19.99

Another quite expensive history check. Although extremely thorough report, and provided by one of the biggest Data companies in the UK. They have access to so much data its scary! Report provided easily online, and they were also recently awarded the Auto Express Best Buy award.
Currently running a deal for £24.95 to check history on up to 5 cars, so good if you haven’t quite made your mind up over which car you would like, or likewise if you are looking to buy multiple salvage vehicles.

The Check.co.uk – £3

Excellent service which sends car history direct to your mobile. SO excellent if you are on the move, or are at a salvage yard and spot something which takes your fancy! To use the service text DRIVEBUY space (Enter Registration number) and text to 83600.
I’ve used this service many times, its accurate, provides all the basic info, and is great for running a quick check on a car.

One point of note, if you are looking to buy an expensive or particularly exotic damaged car, I’d always recommend going for the full HPI, as it will be worth the extra money in the long run.
Although I’ve had no issues with the text services, It just doesn’t provide the level of detail as provided by HPI or Autocheck.

Watch out – some salvage cars may be listed as un-recorded, or may not show on the registers as recorded, but don’t assume this will always be the case. Some companies/insurers are known to be slow to register cars as write-off or uneconomical repairs. I haven’t heard of this happening often, but just something to consider.

Bluecycle.com offer Buy it Now salvage

admin    Salvage    

Bluecycle.com the online Car salvage auction site are now selling Damaged Repairable cars as ‘Buy it Now’ exactly as you would on e-bay.

The bluecycle.com site is very extensive with a massive range of good cars which are always moving, with new stock arriving daily.

When bidding remember you also have to pay buyers fee’s which soon add up! Be sure to factor these into the final sale price.

If you are not yet a member of Bluecycle.com, registration is quite a faff, including a paper application form, and the requirement to send photocopies of ID and recent bill. However this hassle is well worth the effort.

E-mail from bluecycle.com below…

Starting today we are offering a Buy it Now deal on six pre-selected cars from the Motability forecourt.

Instead of waiting until the auction ends, you can pay the Buy it Now price and buy the car immediately over the phone!

This Buy it Now offer only applies to the vehicles listed below and all auctions will be completed by Monday 28^th July.

To find out more about the cars, click on the appropriate link.

If you would like to buy a Buy it Now car, please call Elaine Marshall on 0207 019 5776 (9am – 5:30pm).

(2005) Citroen C4 SX HDI Reserve £2700 Buy it Now price £3200

(2005) Fiat Multipla JTD Dynamic Plus Reserve £1700 Buy it Now price £2200

(2005) Ford Focus Ghia Reserve £3900 Buy it Now price £4400

(2005) Ford Fusion 3 Reserve £2800 Buy it Now price £3300

(2007) Peugeot 307 SW S HDI Reserve £5500 Buy it Now price £6100

(2005) Renault Scenic Dynamique Reserve £3500 Buy it Now price £4000

UK Salvage Websites

admin    Salvage    

Here is a list of all the UK’s Damaged Repairable salvage websites. Please note this is purely a list of all I am aware of, if you know of any additional sites I have missed, please leave a comment and I will add to the directory as soon as possible.

Enjoy!

www.autospares-salvage.com – Auto Salvage and Spares Ltd
www.asm-autos.co.uk – ASM Auto Recycling
www.hewitt.co.uk – Hewitt
www.hbc.co.uk – HBC Vehicle Salvage Specialists
www.silverlakeautoparts.co.uk – Silverlake Garage Autoparts
www.northernsalvage.co.uk – Northern Salvage Automobile Aucions
www.easysalvage.com – Motor Junction
www.fightingcocks.info – Fighting Cocks Salvage Spares
www.salvage75.co.uk – Salvage 75
www.centurysalvagesales.co.uk – Century Salvage Sales
www.wjfurber.co.uk – WJ Furber
www.dewsburyautosalvage.co.uk – Dewsbury Auto Salvage
www.tsrussell.co.uk – TS Russell Salvage
www.portwaysalvage.com – Portway Salvage
www.gowing.co.uk – Gowing Auto Salvage
www.churchroadmotors.co.uk – Church Road Motors
www.motorsalvage.com – Cleave Motor Salvage
www.motor-services-redditch.co.uk – Motor Services Redditch
www.s-w-s.co.uk – South West SalvageLtd
www.cartransplants.co.uk – Car Transplants
www.midlandssalvage.com – Midlands Salvage
www.clevelandrepairables.com – Cleveland Repairables
www.bluecycle.com – Bluecycle
www.rothervalleymotorsalvage.co.uk – Rother Valley Motor Salvage
www.extremesalvage.co.uk – Extreme Salvage
www.4salvage.co.uk – 4Salvage.co.uk
www.forestautosalvage.co.uk – Forest Auto Salvage
www.assalvage.com – A.S. Salvage
www.universal-salvage.com – Universal Vehicle Services
www.eastcoastsalvage.co.uk – East Coast Salvage
www.247salvage.com – 247 Salvage
www.euroautosalvage.co.uk – Euro Auto Salvage
www.daautoparts.co.uk – DA Autoparts
www.raw2k.co.uk – Raw2k
www.templeautosalvage.com – Temple Auto Salvage
www.cybersalvagecars.com – Cyber Salvage Cars
www.applesalvage.com – Apple Salvage
www.sportssalvage.com – Sheffield Sports Salvage
www.furbersmotorsalvage.co.uk – Furber Bros Motor Salvage
www.kingsbridgeautosalvage.co.uk – Kingsbridge Auto Salvage
www.ne-motorsalvage.co.uk – North East Motor Salvage
www.broadbentautos.co.uk – Broadbent Autos
www.phoenix-autoparts.co.uk – Phoenix Autoparts
www.universalcarservices.ltd.uk – Aldershot Car Spares
www.wilfjays.co.uk – W. Jay and Sons Ltd
www.trents.co.uk – Charles Trent Ltd
www.picup.osduk.com – Pic-up Spares
www.mhsalvage.com – Mark Hill Ltd
www.brentwoodautos.com – Brentwood Autos
www.burnsidemotors.co.uk – Burnside Motors
www.chaseautos.com – Chase Autos
www.rogerwindley.co.uk – Roger Windley Ltd
www.hills-motors.co.uk – Hills Motor Salvage
www.tcdsalvage.co.uk – Tanygroes Car Dismantlers
www.overtongarage.co.uk – Overton Garage
www.ajautosalvage.co.uk – A.J. Auto Salvage Ltd
www.carwoodautosalvage.com – Carwood Auto Salvage
www.salvageautos.co.uk – Salvage Autos
www.londonautoparts.co.uk – London Auto Parts
www.ramborecovery.co.uk – Rambo Recovery
www.dalstonsalvage.com – Dalston Salvage
www.allaudi.co.uk – All Audi
www.hmsalvage.co.uk – HM Salvage
www.manorautosalvage.com – Manor Auto Salvage
www.swlautosalvage.co.uk – SWL Salvage
www.allpartssouthwest.com – All Parts
www.salvageonly.com – Salvage Only
www.bradgatemotors.co.uk – Bradgate Motors
www.braodbentautos.co.uk – Broadbent Autos Ltd
www.carwoodautosalvage.com – Carwood Auto Salvage Ltd
www.ccsalvage.com – Crash Care and Salvage
www.delmo.co.uk – Delmo Salvage Cars and Used Car Specialists
www.buy2repair.com – Buy2Repair.com
www.networksalvage.com – Network Salvage
www.qualitysalvage.net – Quality Salvage
www.grharris.co.uk – G&R Harris Ltd

New Salvage Category – Cat U

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News Flash – New Salvage Category’s

Received from Blue Cycle Salvage

“You will soon notice Category U vehicles at auction being sold by a private enterprise. A Category U vehicle is a vehicle that is not owned by an insurance company and may have sustained accident damage. As such, the owner of these vehicles is not governed by the ABI categorisation guidelines and it is unlikely the vehicle damages have been reported to the Motor Insurance Anti-Fraud Theft Register (MIAFTR)

As yet I have been unable to find any further clarification on Cat U vehicles however as soon as I do I will be sure to post a response on Wrecks 2 riches.

Salvage Catagories – Cat D, Cat C, Cat B, Cat X

admin    Salvage    

Some useful tips when buying damaged cars with the view to repair – Take heed of the Category of the damage, as this will affect your resale, and future cars value!

When an insurer takes the decision that a damaged car is an uneconomical repair, and writes it off, they assign a salvage category.

You will pretty much always see the classification of the salvage category on all the auto Salvage websites, and when buying a damaged car to repair and later sell, its very important to take the salvage category into consideration. Ultimately the category will affect the final value of the car, and what you can sell for!

Cat A - Not for resale. Fire damaged (burnt-out), flood damaged (contaminated or salt water), severely damaged with no serviceable parts, or heavily stripped (shell).
Notification of Destruction required. (To be crushed). Recorded at DVLA & HPI.

Cat B – Not for resale. Damaged beyond economical repair and/or severe structural damage.
Notification of Destruction required. (Parts can be removed and sold). Recorded at DVLA & HPI.

Cat C – Repairable salvage. Generally applies to older vehicles. Can be sold for repair but must now have VIC inspection.
Recorded at DVLA & HPI.

Cat D - Repairable salvage. Minimal damage sometimes stolen and found after claim has been paid, or cost of repair combined with difficulty obtaining new parts to enable a swift repair.
Recorded with HPI.

Cat X – Repairable salvage. Not recorded on any registers such as HPI. Limited or very light damage, or vehicle is new or less than 12 months old. Usually requires minimal repair work.
NOT Recorded with HPI.

If you are buying to repair and sell, your more than likely to opt for the simplest, Cat X, which is not recorded on HPI, once repaired to a high standard no one will ever know its been an uneconomical repair from an Insurer. There are loads of reasons an Insurance company might not be able to repair, and may decide to write it off, it may not necessarily always be because its uneconomical to do so. Often customers with new cars, will demand a brand new replacement or for Hire car companies, who just don’t want to up their insurance premium by claiming.

Cat D is still good for repair, and can still be very light damage which is easily repaired. Just it will be recorded on HPI – When you come to sell you must make sure to tell any buyers it is a CAT D damaged repaired car.

Cat C is also still OK for repair, but once repaired will require a DVLA VIC (vehicle identity check) This is a fairly simple process, but may take some time to complete being that its the DVLA. Again, when you come to sell the car you need to make it very clear that the car was CAT C salvage, and that the car has had damaged and been repaired.

My Favourite Salvage websites

admin    Salvage    

My favourite Auto salvage websites.

www.s-w-s.co.uk
South West Salvage
Car Salvage yard based out in Gloucester, they seem to have a pretty expansive section of damaged cars, many of which are almost brand new! Which would seem like they have come direct from the manufacturer, or possibly rental companies, who have had new cars pranged within days of owning them.

www.qualitysalvage.net
Quality Salvage
Small salvage yard based out by Gatwick, I have dealt personally with the guys and Quality Salvage, and highly rate them. Often have a good selection of quality damaged repairable cars, at reasonable prices.

www.cleavemotorsalvage.com
Cleave Motor Salvage
Big salvage yard and breakers, also based in Gloucester. Big selection of cars, all the way from Fiats to Ferrari’s. Often has some very exotic damaged cars in stock. Definitely worth taking a look, although the website isn’t the easiest to use.

www.bluecycle.com
Bluecycle
I’m new to the bluecycle service, and as yet have not bid on a car. The easiest way of describing the site is like the ebay for damaged repairable cars. You view details, and then bid accordingly. Couple of points of note, you need to register to be able to access the site, this requires paper application and supporting documentation to be sent off. Also, if you are bidding on any salvage, remember to add on your buyers premium tax.

The purpose of this site.

The reasons for the build of this site are two fold. Predominantly, I would like to share my experiences of buying and repairing salvaged cars. Ultimately, my goal is to also use this site to earn money to help finance my purchase & subsequent repair of damaged car.
The long term goal ultimately being for me to be driving around in a Porsche 911. (Whether this happens or not is a completely different question)

Wrecks to Riches Blog

admin    Salvage    

Hi,

Thanks for reading my first post.

This blog aims to be an online resource for all those people looking to purchase damaged repairable cars from Salvage or Breakers.

Its also a way for me to share my experiences whilst buying and repairing salvaged cars myself.

I will be posting daily, so keep an eye out as the blog will be updated regularly.

Thanks