I've sold my dad's car on eBay and the winning bidder is from Huddersfield. I'm in Swansea so it's a fair drive down and back. It was an Octavia only worth around 1k.

The buyer contacted me and wants to pick up the car on Sunday/Monday but he can't be specific on what day.

The one thing that worries me is that he wants the VIN number to HPI the car. I wouldn't mind so much if he was local and I'd met him in person but I'm a bit nervous about doing this. I give him the VIN and he could do end up cloning the car. I don't remember needing a VIN when I last HPI'ed a car but this was a while ago.

I've told him there is no finance on the car and it has never been inlvoved in an accident. The car itself is a fixer upper. Needs a new Air mass meter and a few other bits. I said he could to a text check on the car if he wanted but he said they don't show finance. When I said that they do he said he needed it for his own peace of mind. What HPI'ing a 11 year old, £1,000 car!

I don't know what to do. Where would I stand on eBay? I know can give another bidder a second offer. There's one locally which isn't too far off the money we want so I may do that. We need the car gone as the new one is waiting to go on the road.

What do I do?

Thanks in advance.

Martyn.

Edited 12 May, 201016 yr by kai_mitsurugi

If he does the HPI check, then it will tell him that he won't get the guarantee if he doesn't include the VIN.

I guess you could always do the HPI and send him a PDF, but to be honest I wouldn't buy a car on what somebody said and would always do the test myself.

Tell them to go away!!

Do second chance offer with local buyer and don't worry about it, just tell eBay about the vin thing, he sounds like a messer to me!

What's his feedback like?

Yup, VIN is needed for the HPI check

Yup, VIN is needed for the HPI check

He is doing exactly the right thing. You question why would he want to HPI a £1k car but equally why would he clone a £1k car? You expect him to trust you re the finance etc but there is no trust from your side.

Use a well-known third party to valiidate the HPi status . . . by implication, FOC.

We Buy any car

Presumably, he does not know the car's index number ?.

WBAC must do an HPI check.

They provide an e-mail quote in response to a short form that you complete based on vehicle index number.

If the E-mail response from them is positive then it can be passed-on as proof that the car is free of encumbrances - pricing and VIN ident info duly redacted ?

All without commitment and charge.

Don't e-bay provide such a service ?

Nick

Edited 13 May, 201016 yr by Clunkclick

I'm sorry, you have to have trust both ways.

As I said above HPI ask for the VIN to give their guarantee.

£1k is obviously enough money to him to be careful.

If you're unsure tell him that if he does the HPI on the reg plate, you're happy for him to finish the check in person on a computer at yours or to use your phone to call them.

I'm sorry but it's a £1k car not a £50k used supercar.