Car data experts HPI have revealed that men are more than three times more likely to do a background check on a second-hand car that they are considering buying.
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The research from HPI shows that between November 2017 and November 2018, 78 percent of users were male and 22 percent female. That comes despite figures released earlier this year by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) showing that female car ownership was at a record high. According to the figures, there was around 11.8 million women listed as registered keepers of vehicles in the UK at the end of 2017, which marked a 21 percent increase compared to a decade earlier.
HPI's data also showed that 25-34-year-olds are the most likely age group to research a used car on a mobile device before buying, while over 55-year-olds prefer to look up their next used purchase on a desktop computer.
Birmingham was the city in the UK with the most number of vehicle history checks outside of London, ahead of Belfast and Leicester.
Cities with the most number of vehicle history checks outside of London
1. Birmingham
2. Belfast
3. Leicester
4. Reading
5. Guilford
6. Bristol
7. Peterborough
8. Chelmsford
9. Cardiff
10. Coventry
Among HPI's checks is looking at the National Mileage Register, where it has checked more than 200 million mileage readings. It also confirms whether a vehicle has been recorded as stolen to the police, or whether it has outstanding finance or has been written off.
"Our analysis reveals some fascinating insights into how motorists check out used vehicles. It’s imperative to do this to ensure that you are not buying a car that could be a danger to yourself and other motorists," said Fernando Garcia, consumer director at HPI. "Vehicle checks from HPI also reveal some shocking statistics that can affect the value of a car including 975 cars per day identified as write-offs, and 726 cars found to have mileage discrepancies on a daily basis."
"One of the main questions arising is that although we know female car ownership is on the increase, women are significantly less likely to carry out a car history check with HPI than men. Not carrying out an HPI Check can lead to problems arising post-purchase such as the car having outstanding finance or discovering it’s been written off, stolen or even clocked. Conducting an HPI Check will answer all of these questions, offering peace of mind and leaving no room for doubt as to the vehicle’s background and whether or not it represents a good used buy for the potential owner."
HPI did its first vehicle check way back in 1938, and has since improved the data on more than 35 million live vehicles – more than 97 percent of vehicles on the road.