My cat B car so far!

[timk]

How about checking with the previous named owner which you would have from the V5, whether they have knowledge of any accidents whilst in their ownership or prior? I would do just to set my mind at rest if it were my car. It looks from what you have said to be an insurance anomoly somewhere along the line.

 

[harry_dhuga]

How about checking with the previous named owner which you would have from the V5, whether they have knowledge of any accidents whilst in their ownership or prior? I would do just to set my mind at rest if it were my car. It looks from what you have said to be an insurance anomoly somewhere along the line.

When HPI did the checks with the insurance company they came back and reported that it has been written off early on in it's life, think it was in 2001/2 if I can remember correctly.

With regards to the insurance you can get a car which is cat A or B insured by a company, you just don't declare to the company at the time they don't do the check if it has been involved in major accidents or not - shocking!

Guess they will just turn around and not pay out in the case of a claim if it wasn't declared when insurance was taken out.

 

[Mudster]

Guess they will just turn around and not pay out in the case of a claim if it wasn't declared when insurance was taken out.

That would be my concern, OP has an accident, Insurer then checks rating for vehicle and discovered it's categorised. Insurer refuses to pay out on grounds of non disclosure. They then inform the police the OP has been driving uninsured - huge can of worms.

I'd want this straight, or I'd want a letter from the DVLA confirming the vehicle is not a Cat anything as they have a habit of denying anything they said even when they have sent it in writing.

 

[harry_dhuga]

That would be my concern, OP has an accident, Insurer then checks rating for vehicle and discovered it's categorised. Insurer refuses to pay out on grounds of non disclosure. They then inform the police the OP has been driving uninsured - huge can of worms.

I'd want this straight, or I'd want a letter from the DVLA confirming the vehicle is not a Cat anything as they have a habit of denying anything they said even when they have sent it in writing.

My thoughts exactly, I just think it's difficult to feel totally comfortable unless you know 100% one way or the other what this car is all about.

** To the original poster, have you declared anything to your insurance company with regards to the Cat business..?? **

 

[Alps]

if the DVLA dont know abt any catagory, then i wouldnt worry any further ! RESULT!

 

[harry_dhuga]

if the DVLA dont know abt any catagory, then i wouldnt worry any further ! RESULT!

I agree it is a result as it is a nice car, but I would still cosider investigating this to clear matters up.

If you were buying it and did a HPI on it would you ignore what information they present you and buy it?

I have done may HPI check's and I think it would be quite strange if a mistake had been made and not been cleared up after all this time.

Anyhow, good luck to the buyer hope for his sake it is as straight a motor as it appears to be.

 

[Mudster]

if the DVLA dont know abt any catagory, then i wouldnt worry any further ! RESULT!

I'm not so sure the ostrich approach is the right way to go in this case due to the potential for a Cat B, if it were a C or D maybe....

How does it work anyway, do HPi administer and inform the DVLA or do the DVLA administer and inform HPi?

 

[toehold]

The chap I spoke to at the DVLA told me that the car has never needed a VIC certificate which it must have if it has had accident damage that warranted a cat whatever status. He said that I did not need to tell my insurance company as many many cars have had bumps but a lot of people rectify themselves without telling insurance companies and as my car stands with the DVLA I am in my legal rights to not tell my insurance as in his eyes there is nothing to tell. Obviously he advised me to clear up the anomally with whichever insurance company has supplied details to HPI as it will always show on a search when I come to sell.

This I will do eventually but as it stands I am in the DVLA's eyes fully insured and the car is in his words not a class B C D or anything. I have not taken the ostrich approach I rang the DVLA gave them all the details and was told what I have said and as usual the conversation will have been recorded. At the end of the day the DVLA chap said it was the details that they hold on the car that are accountable with the police with getting the car registered/taxed etc and it is there records that an insurance company would use not HPI's if there was a dispute....now that is good enough for me!

 

[toehold]

Oh and the chassis numbers on the vehicle and in the window all match up and look totally original. At the end of the day just looking round the car with someone who deals in body repairs it is quite easy to see what damage the car has had and that is why I rang the DVLA as my friend could not believe the car was a cat B, his 1st words were somebody has made a mistake somewhere.

 

[harry_dhuga]

Just to say the thoughts of members on here which may come across to you rather negative are not implied in such a way - bottom line is we are providing our views and experiences in such situations and perhaps what can be done to rectify things once and for all.

I'm sure this would be beneficial to yourself - especially when it comes to selling the car so the vicious circle can be broken and the car can be 'straight' in all aspects.

 

[Mudster]

Firstly, the DVLA won't have a recording of that conversation, I almost guarantee that. If you think they do I would strongly suggest you phone them and ask for a transcript. (which I believe will never materialise).

Secondly, without proof you have had this conversation with the DVLA (transcript or confirmation in writing) I believe you don't have a leg to stand on with what that guy said.

As it stands I think you are on very thin ice, I think technically you are uninsured by the fact you are withholding material facts.

Now you may disagree with me, but remember it is your duty to prove this is not the case rather than the insurers/police to prove it is.

I would sort this immediately and not rely for one moment on what conversation you had with the DVLA.

 

[Mudster]

Oh and the chassis numbers on the vehicle and in the window all match up and look totally original. At the end of the day just looking round the car with someone who deals in body repairs it is quite easy to see what damage the car has had and that is why I rang the DVLA as my friend could not believe the car was a cat B, his 1st words were somebody has made a mistake somewhere.

Just for moment remove the condition of the vehicle and your feelings from the equation. The vehicle may or may not be in perfect condition but that is actually entirely irrelevant.

A situation has arisen that the vehicle may or may not be a Cat B write off. This is a material information of which you were aware when you bought and insured the car, you failed to provide this information to the insurers.

You have had an unconfirmed conversation with the DVLA that indicates the vehicle is not recorded but have no proof of this conversation.

It is in your interest to straighten this out immediately and I'm reasonably sure your insurance is invalid until you do (under non disclosure clauses).

For my sins, years ago I was a motor insurance underwriter at Lloyds of London. The duty of proof is yours, don't assume anything different.

 

[harry_dhuga]

Like 'Mudster' I also worked in Insurance years ago and we used to get companies invalidate claims because of the smallest indescrepencies on the forms or when they went to investigate the cars and history - just a head's up really.

 

[pharmed]

This topic seems very confusing :S

 

[toehold]

Harry

Totally understand and can see their/your concerns. I will have to sort it out with HPI at some stage thats for sure but I now have peace of mind as there was no way I was going to use the car without declaring it to my insurers, past experience has shown me if there is a way out the loss adjuster will find it!

I have been fortunate enough to have had quite a few performance cars and when I bought this my son (he owns the red Astra VXR turbo behind some of the pics of my car) and his pals took the p**s being a 1998 Mercedes old mans car, since having driven it and seeing it go passed his car and several of his mates "fast cars" he now thinks its great!

Sad I know but still a boy racer am I !

 

[keysl]

Hi, can I ask who did the wheel refurb? Company etc? Love the look of them

 

[toehold]

At the end of the day the "FACT" is the car is not registered at the DVLA as accident damaged no matter what conversation I had otherwise the guy there would have told me it was and this is where the police get all their information when doing a search on a vehicle. As I said I will sort it out and get to the bottom of it but I am not doing anything illegal as I have checked with the powers that be which is def not an independent company like HPI I can assure you.

 

[toehold]

Ukkey

Ian at 124 Works got them done locally by someone he swears by. Ian even lent me some used E55 alloys while they were off the car being refurbished.

 

[harry_dhuga]

Harry

Totally understand and can see their/your concerns. I will have to sort it out with HPI at some stage thats for sure but I now have peace of mind as there was no way I was going to use the car without declaring it to my insurers, past experience has shown me if there is a way out the loss adjuster will find it!

I have been fortunate enough to have had quite a few performance cars and when I bought this my son (he owns the red Astra VXR turbo behind some of the pics of my car) and his pals took the p**s being a 1998 Mercedes old mans car, since having driven it and seeing it go passed his car and several of his mates "fast cars" he now thinks its great!

Sad I know but still a boy racer am I !

I know what you mean, I had people say to me is that a minicab - tell you what that is some minicab will certainly get you somewhere in a hurry...!!!

 

[toehold]

As for failing to disclose you have a fair point but my view is I knew about the car being advertised as a cat b and after having the car looked at by a friend and Ian at 124 works who both disputed the cat B I then rang the DVLA who are the governing body and was told my car is not a cat whatever. In my eyes I therefore have nothing to disclose as they hold the records but rest assured I will sort it. As far as HPI are concerned do you know how many cars are not on their register even though they have been badly damaged? Lots, have a quick look on eBay or wherever and see the adverts "not recorded"! HPI and other car check companies like it are there to earn money they are a business. I would rather go to court with the paperwork the DVLA has on my car than car check companies any day. Your taint on failing to disclose in my eyes is not correct I have checked with the DVLA and there is nothing to disclose as far as they are concerned no matter what the guy there said the fact is my car is not registered as a cat anything. I did not "fail to provide this information" as you say to my insurers I doubted it before I got insured I then did my homework and found out the car is not registered as I have said and "then" got the car insured to me that is a big difference!