Recently an HPI check was done on my car which I have owned for about 18 months. Unfortunately it came back with a CAT D insurance claim and outstanding finance, neither of which was mentioned on my purchase (stupidly I did not HPI it on when bought). Does this mean it will be impossible to sell? What are the implications? Advice gratefully received
You have two problems here. 1 you don't own the car, so you cant sell it without dropping yourself into deep water. If the car has outstanding finance on it and the payments for the finance are not made , the finance company have the right to take the vehicle back.
I would worry more about the outstanding finance than the CAT D
The outstanding finance is not owed by me, and I have a bill of sale and the vehicle was bought in good faith.
The car is registered to me with insurance etc. at my present address (lived at for 1 year) and nobody has knocked on my door. I suppose the debt could still be being paid by previous owner???
Regardless the vehicle will remain the property of the finance company untill the full debt is paid. which means that the car belongs to them untill the person who sold it to you has paid up in full.
I know that this seems unfair but the person who sold you the did so after signing an agreement with a finance house agreeing that the vehicle finance would be paid in full.
I know of people who have paid, like you, for a car and lost it to the finance company. If you know who sold it to you go back and see them,