Unrecorded Logbook?

[crisgal]

what does that mean? I have seen a car I love on ebay, but it says it has an 'unrecorded log book'.

it states:
'This car has come direct from a major insurance company and will be recorded on the hpi as a salvage vehicle unless stated in the title as unrecorded'.

What on earth does that all mean?

Category C and Category D Registered Cars

[Baldric]

I suspect it means it would not be a good idea,
'Salvage vehicle' does not bide well.

From HPI Site
It is not illegal to repair and return written-off for salvage vehicles back to the road as long as they have passed a Vehicle Identity Check

[ToraToraTora]

I have never heard that phrase, I can only assume that it's from the insurance company. Probably this car is a Cat c/d write off so the logbook would have been sent to DVLAmarking the vehicle as scrapped. However it can be resurected and issue with a new logbook if it has been repaired satisfactorily. Can you point me at the item so I can get a better idea. Thanks

[crisgal]

yes, thank you. it's a bit confusing 'cus it states that there is full service history.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/330991023223?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649

[crisgal]

...and it also says it's a salvage vehicle, UNLESS it states unrecorded!

[ToraToraTora]

OK the Unrecorded bit refere to what will come back if you do an HPI check. Either HPI will have heard of the vehicle in which case they will term it "salvage". It may come back as unrecorded, if they have never heard of it or they have heard of it but as far as their records go it is scrapped. What they are saying is that they have salvaged the vehicle and that during the time they have been restoring it to roadworthyness the records at DVLA/HPI etc will have been changed. This is a Cat C write off, that means there was more than superficial damage but repairable but the insurer did not deem it financially viable to do so. This firm therefore have done so. Basically the Insurer did not think it worth repairing, thus any salvage outfit would have repaired it as cheaply as possible using less than new Fiat parts. Frankly I would not touch this with the proverbial bargepole. If you bought this you would first have to get it declared road worthy again at DVLA special site and that's a couple of hundred at least, then you can apply to DVLA for a new logbook. There must be thousand of those available crisgal.

[Baldric]

/// it states that there is full service history///

Means it was serviced as it should be, and has NO bearing whatsoever to any accident damage it may have suffered

[Baldric]

This alone should make you run a mile!

///Please understand that we are salvage dealers and not mechanics, we give descriptions to the best of our abilities to give a rough guide, to make the vehicle roadworthy again. This is why we cannot stress enough it is very important that you come and view the vehicle yourself before purchase///

[Graham-W]

It doesn't say it is "cat c" damaged. The description of "a few minor age related marks and scratches but overall In good condition" could mean it is either "cat d" or "cat x". If "cat x", stolen/recovered, it may not show on the log book, but HPI would know about it as the insurers will have payed out.
I'd have no qualms buying a vehicle like this. Even "cat d" is likely to be only the locks have been replaced on a stolen/recovered or repesession.

[Graham-W]

BTW The Vehicle Identity Check (VIC) costs £41. Not several hundred, as others have claimed. You can check for yourself, at no charge, if the vehicle needs a VIC here, under, Check if a car has a VIC marker:
https://www.gov.uk/vehicle-identity-check/vic-test-fees

[Iggle Piggle]

What category (cat) is it? It will be damaged in some way, category C is moderate repairable damage (usually accident damage) and category D is more light accident damage, flood damage, damaged locks, things like that.
What they are probably saying is the category is 'not recorded on the logbook' meaning that once the damage is repaired, the car can be owned, and sold, just like any other with no checks needed to be made as to the quality of the repair.
Cat C damage must be recorded on the logbook and usually the repair must be checked before the car is allowed back on the road.

[frugalfred]

All I can add is "caveat emptor".

[Iggle Piggle]

and another thing to add, if you don't have experience buying 'salvage' or vehicles like this, DON'T GO ALONE. Ask a local mechanic or a knowledgeable friend if they will go along with you. Even if the car looks fine on top, the damage may be underneath, or behind a panel that has been 'popped out'.

[ToraToraTora]

It says Cat C in the deecription.

[ToraToraTora]

Graham I'm not talking about a VIC I'm talking about a full vehicle inspection, necessary to get a cat c declared road worty again.

[Graham-W]

Toratoratora.
The description does NOT say it is "cat c".
It says," If the vehicle is a category C you may need to have a Vehicle Identity check done and apply to the DVLA for a logbook, if stated above there is no Logbook available."
It is stated on the first line that the log book IS available. This would indicate that the worst it could be is "cat d" and possibly "cat x" and although this would show up on HPI check it would not be recorded on the log book which is what it says in the title ie UNRECORDED LOGBOOK.