I am just about to agree to buy a car privately.

Does anyone know how I can check if there is any outstanding finance on the car. In the UK you do an HPI check.

Thanks for any help.

You could ask to see the purchase recipt as a start.

That I have seen, but it does not tell me anything. I know the seller is the true owner.

If there is a finance agreement outstanding it will say on the cars grey document, what we would call a log book, it's a great idea, simple and efficient, look at the back page last section.

Isn't there something on the grey registration document(fahrzeugschein in German speaking parts) that indicates if a vehicle is leased? Pretty sure there is, but not sure what. Maybe check with your local vehicle licensing centre.

Thanks Onei and dmarkd, I shall take a look at the log book and let you know.

You will find something on the official car detail forms. If it is leased the current owner will be breaking the law if they sell it as you cannot sell a leased car until the outstanding payments are settled.

No, there isn't.

My car was first leased, and is now owned, and the grey card is still the original one, and has never been modified (except for MFK stamps)

Tom

That may have been some time ago, all new grey docs 'carte gris' (French side) now have that information on them, if you want to buy a car where a finance company has a charge (details on the doc.) you must pay them off first, this is quite easy, call them up, if it's a large amount you can do it through IBAN or you can use a credit card. I'm not sure what year this was introduced but I do know that now it is the way things are because I have seen with my own eyes !