Used Car Buyers Rescued By New VIR

Used Car Buyers Rescued By New Vehicle Information Report (VIR)

Dozens of used car buyers have already been saved from financial disaster by a new Internet-based vehicle report says Pat Costigan, founder and managing director of OnTap Information, the company that developed the Motorweb VIR system in Auckland.

The result of nine years and over a million dollars in research and development, the patented VIR is claimed to be the most comprehensive report available, and can instantly highlight legal or ownership problems with a vehicle.

Already used by car dealers, auctions and car fairs, the VIR can quickly reveal vehicles that have money owing, are stolen or of interest to the police, have suspicious odometer readings, unusual histories, or otherwise trigger any one of the 44 other ”alert” warnings.

Mr Costigan says that since being made available to the general public, some of the resulting stories are ”incredible”. “Last week for instance a young woman asked for reports on three different cars on the same day. The VIRs showed that the first car’s odometer had been wound back 100,000 km! The second had a dubious history that showed de-registration and likely accident damage. Based on this, she had an AA mechanical inspection done, which discovered over $1000 worth of repairs were needed. A check on the licence plate of her third choice showed a short period of ownership, but no other problems. For a very small outlay this lady saved herself thousands of dollars”.

This week a court case began against an Auckland man accused of winding back approximately 900 cars. According to Motorweb Sales Manager Chris Knight, this is only ”the tip of the iceberg”. “Besides the large number of wound back cars in circulation, around 80,000 cars are stolen every year. Many of them are modified and resold to the unsuspecting public. Damaged and flood-soaked vehicles are also being imported and illegally sold, and we now spot the recurring names of obviously unlicensed traders. We are certainly doing our bit to stop people being defrauded, and give buyers some peace of mind.”

“The police and industry leaders are delighted with our system and are taking advantage of it, but many private purchasers are not aware that a VIR service is now available. Members of the public can get an immediate report for $25 inc. GST on our web site at www.vir.co.nz at any time, or during business hours Ph 0800-668-679.”

© Scoop Media