Car history databases,cartell.ie etc

Mr. Flibble

There are companies out there like cartell.ie that will give you a car's history for a fee. Anyone know what databases they use? Are the databases public domain?

cbyrne

I doubt you'll get anything for free, but does anyone know if cartell.ie is a industry/state sponsored thing or a private initiative, if so how do they get access to that data with Data Protection rights etc..

Always thought for years that it would be great to set up something in Ireland like HPI but presumed it would not be possible to get access to the data..

unkel

cbyrne wrote:

I doubt you'll get anything for free, but does anyone know if cartell.ie is a industry/state sponsored thing or a private initiative, if so how do they get access to that data with Data Protection rights etc..

Always thought for years that it would be great to set up something in Ireland like HPI but presumed it would not be possible to get access to the data..

Was wondering about that myself

maidhc

They get the information from the NVDF, the national vehicle and driver file. It is the same master file that the likes of the county councils use for motor tax and SWS use(d) for administering the penalty points.

There must be a recent statutory instrument that has been passed allowing the likes of Cartell access, this is how it worked for the RSA, SWS, and other bodies.

Incidentally the motor distributors had access to this database (for warning people their car was faulty), but they lost access in 2005 or so.

There probably is no data protection issue surrounding cartell though, as there is no processing or disclosure of personal information. I don't believe you are told anything about the ownership of the car.

EDIT
I should add that on payment of a small fee (€6 I think), and on showing reasonable cause you are entitled to find out the ownership of any car. I know of at least one case where this was used by a stalker to find out someones home address!

Henry Ford III

Why not examine the service history? Would cost you nothing.

VLC will show no. of previous owners also.

cbyrne

yeah, well call me a cynic but I can't see what cartell gives me at the moment that I couldn't reasonably find out myself. Think Ireland is such a smaller market and in general doesn't seem to have as many scam artists as the UK, so while buying in UK i'd do a HPI (which seems to give more info) but don't think i'd boither with cartell.. maybe I'm wrong/naiive though?

Does cartell give you finance info? Also, its not much good on a UK car is it, I mean it it turns out the car was import - which would be on VLC anyway, I presume you then have to do a HPI at your own cost anyway?

RobAMerc

I have used cartell simply for the finance and of it - I have heard of people buying cars not been cleared - its you who'll end up paying or returning the car!

Seth Brundle

cbyrne wrote:

I doubt you'll get anything for free, but does anyone know if cartell.ie is a industry/state sponsored thing or a private initiative, if so how do they get access to that data with Data Protection rights etc..

Cartell is owned AFAIK by the recent Kildare North PD candidate Jeff Aherne.

unkel

And his sister

Henry Ford III

cbyrne wrote:

yeah, well call me a cynic but I can't see what cartell gives me at the moment that I couldn't reasonably find out myself. Think Ireland is such a smaller market and in general doesn't seem to have as many scam artists as the UK, so while buying in UK i'd do a HPI (which seems to give more info) but don't think i'd boither with cartell.. maybe I'm wrong/naiive though?

Does cartell give you finance info? Also, its not much good on a UK car is it, I mean it it turns out the car was import - which would be on VLC anyway, I presume you then have to do a HPI at your own cost anyway?

Dead on