Avoid the four biggest risks of buying used cars

One in five people admit to telling fibs when it comes to getting the best price for their car, usually about the mileage or previous accidents.

HPI, which conducted the research, is warning used car buyers to make sure they get a history check to avoid being taken in by private sellers telling tales about the status of their car - or to buy from a dealer that includes one in the price of the car.

The HPI Check offers a financial guarantee and a mileage check as standard, and will help you to avoid four of the biggest risks associated with buying used cars:

1.   Write-off.  Some insurance write-off can be repaired safely and returned to the road, while others are only fit for scrap.  The HPI Check not only identifies if a car has been written-off, but also which category of write-off - helping buyers make an informed decision about the purchase.

2.   Clocked.  Six in every 100 vehicles checked by HPI has a mileage discrepancy.  An HPI Check draws on the National Mileage Register of 130+ million records, alerting car buyers and dealers to potential mileage discrepancies and helping them avoid paying too much for a car that has more miles on the clock than it appears.

3.   Outstanding Finance.  Nearly one in four vehicles checked by HPI are still subject to an outstanding finance agreement.  If you unwittingly buy a car that is still on finance then technically it is still owned by the finance company - and they could claim it back at any time until the outstanding amount is settled.

4.   Stolen.  HPI Checks identify nearly 19 stolen vehicles every day.  Buying a stolen vehicle means you will lose the car and the money you paid for it, when it's returned to the rightful owner.

"It can be the perception that it's just organised criminals who are selling vehicles with a hidden past," says HPI's Nicola Johnson.  "However these new figures suggest that hard-up car owners may be looking to push up the price of their car by hiding vital information.  Make sure you buy with your head, and not your heart -an HPI Check is a good way to reduce the risk of paying over the odds."