Car Crime Awareness Week 17 - 23 May, 2010

The Finance and Leasing Association is working with key industry partners to raise awareness of car crime and its impact upon both the industry and consumers.

Car Crime Awareness Week, 17 - 23 May 2010, is an initiative of the Association of Chief Police Officers' (ACPO) Vehicle Crime Intelligence Service (AVCIS), a national police unit dedicated to tackling car crime and stopping associated criminal gangs. The FLA has proudly sponsored the AVCIS Vehicle Fraud Unit since 2007 (more info).

Latest news

Win or lose - don't play the used car lottery, says FLA and What Car? - FLA 19/05/10

Information is key to unlocking car finance confusion - FLA, 18/05/10

Industry and police partnership to beat motor fraud - FLA, 17/05/10

Warning as fraud rockets in used motor market - Daily Mirror, 12/05/10

Buying a car?

Buying a car is second biggest purchase most people will ever make. Do your research, not just on the make and model of car, but also on the type of finance product that best meets your needs.

Check out www.FinancingYourCar.co.uk for a range of tools and tips on how to get what you pay for. There’s an easy-to-use finance decider, and the new SAF Approved Dealer Directory which will show your nearest dealership that has passed the FLA’s certification programme offering customers improved information and advice on motor finance.

Don't gamble on your car's history!

Car buyers are being warned not to rely on luck with their next used car purchase. Buying a car is the second biggest purchase most people will make - conducting a quick history check will tell you, for example, whether he car has been stolen, written off, cloned or has an outstanding finance agreement against it, that could mean that you wouldn’t become the legal owner even if you bought it from the seller.

A comprehensive car history check should tell the following information:

If there is an outstanding finance agreement.
If a car has been written-off or involved in a traffic accident.
If a car has been recorded as stolen.
If a vehicle is being traced by a third party and is at risk of fraud or theft.
A full description including the make, model, colour, date of first registration, engine size and number transmission and number of gear, body style, year of manufacture.
How many owners the car has had.
If it has had any colour changes.
If it has had any registration plate changes.
If it has been used and imported from outside the EU.
If it has been exported.
If the DVLA have it recorded as scrapped.
Mileage information – has it been clocked? (Not available for all vehicles)
Confirmation of the VIN before you buy.

Visit http://www.financingyourcar.org.uk/car/home/carhistory.riv for more information about car history checks.

Want more information?

HPI www.hpicheck.com

Autocheck from Experian www.autocheck.co.uk

Don’t become a victim of motor fraud

Cases of motor fraud can vary from innocent mistakes on a loan application through to organised crime and gang activity. It is costing the motor industry big - £17 million in 2009. If you unknowingly purchase a fraudulent vehicle you may end up with a car that is later seized by the police or repossessed by a finance company for money owing on the vehicle.

Examples of motor fraud include:

Application fraud – where an applicant has given false information on a finance application.Impersonation or identity fraud – where a fraudster poses as a law-abiding citizen when applying for finance, after stealing confidential information from them.

Conversion fraud - selling on a car which is legally owned by a finance company because their customer has not settled outstanding finance.

First party fraud – when a customer is paying off a car loan, but illegally leasing out the vehicle to a third party or making repayments using a fake credit card.

Tips to avoid being a victim of motor fraud:

When buying a car, new or used, do your research. Know what to expect from the make, model and age of the vehicle – if the deal looks like it’s too good to be true, it probably is.
If buying a used car, always get a vehicle history check, and remember some check providers offer a more comprehensive check – such as finance information – than others.
Establish who the seller of the vehicle is – are they the legal owners of the vehicle, or is it a reputable dealer?
Check the car thoroughly for damage and make sure the vehicle identification numbers (VIN) match the documents.
Take the car for a test drive and if buying a used car, consider having it checked out by an auto mechanic.
Consider in advance how you will pay for the vehicle. Cash can be dangerous, particularly if meeting a private seller at an unfamiliar address. Always meet the seller at their residential address, never, for example, in a pub car park or petrol station.
If buying a vehicle on the web, ensure you’ve done all your checks before transferring any payment.