In the UK, a vehicle checking service long available to commercial business has, at the time of writing, been extended to private citizens. HPI Autodata (Tel. 0722 422422) will check the identity of a vehicle, they will check whether it is stolen or the subject of outstanding finance, and whether it has been involved in a major (recorded by insurance company) collision. If you have trouble getting through on the telephone number given here, your local Trading Standards Office should be able to furnish an up to date number.
